England Hope Robert Is The Key

The Kent batsman has earned his call-up after an outstanding summer at county level, averaging 44 from his 12 first class matches - and the thumb injury which has sidelined Marcus Trescothick for most of the season.

With Trescothick unlikely to feature in the remaining three Tests against India, beginning with the second Test at Trent Bridge, it gives Key until the end of the season to impress the selectors.

Trescothick should have recovered to take his place in the tour party, but the future of Graham Thorpe, who has announced his decision to take a complete break from cricket, is unknown.

"It's a lucky opportunity for me, really," admitted Key. "Marcus and Graham Thorpe are among the best players around at the moment and for him (Trescothick) not to play because of his injury is unfortunate for him.

"I'm under no illusions really - I'm going to be going out there doing my best and trying to keep guys like him and Graham Thorpe out of the side, trying to give the selectors a dilemma when these guys are fit for selection."

But to get to this stage, Key has had to make plenty of sacrifices after being given a lecture on what he needed to do to reach the top level by Alec Stewart during a Professional Cricketers' Association dinner two years ago.

"I'd had a bad year and Kent were toying with the idea of sending me to Perth," revealed Key.

"I was pretty much sick of cricket and I wanted a break. I didn't want to do another six months of playing but he pulled me aside and told me to sort myself out.

"He told me to get out to Perth and play on some of the best batting wickets in the world and work hard and if I did that there would be a good chance for me going on and playing for England.

"I was wasting away as a cricketer and not really doing anything. I wasn't really doing enough to be a professional cricketer even. I wasn't even succeeding as a county player."

Key is not the only player to benefit from time spent in Australia, where he was sent again last winter as part of the academy squad, with Durham fast bowler Steve Harmison also hoping his development under Rod Marsh will result in a Test debut.

Harmison, selected for four England squads without ever making the starting line-up two years ago against Zimbabwe and West Indies, is hoping to replace Simon Jones after the Glamorgan fast bowler sustained a side strain.

Jones is expected to be sidelined for two weeks and is hopeful of making his return for Glamorgan in their championship match against Durham on August 16, giving him an outside chance of returning for the third Test at Headingley six days later.

"It feels good to be back, but it will be better if I actually get a game," admitted Harmison. "Conditions in the past meant I didn't get a chance.

"At start of the season I was being bandied about as being the one bowler from the academy that could go on and play Test cricket this summer.

"But Simon got there first. I spent some time with him in Australia and what he did was a breath of fresh air for English cricket."

While England consider blooding two new players, India have problems with one of their most experienced stars with leg-spinner Anil Kumble suffering with the left calf strain he sustained during the NatWest Series.

Kumble was to have a scan today and if he is not fit enough, Harbhajan Singh will earn a recall after being overlooked for the 170-run opening Test defeat at Lord's.