Kent captain Rob Key will lead the England Lions one-day side out at Grace Road later this month in a one-day international friendly against South Africa.

Though some pundits, Sir Ian Botham included, believed Key was the best candidate to replace Michael Vaughan as Test skipper, the Spitfires skipper will at least have a showcase for his talents in this one-day game in Leicestershire on Thursday, August 14 – just two days before Kent’s Friends Provident Trophy final against Essex.

His county opening partner Joe Denly is also selected in the 12-man squad as is Kent off-spinner and batsman James Tredwell.

England Lions squad to play South Africa on August 14: Robert Key (Kent, capt), Kabir Ali (Worcestershire), Ravi Bopara (Essex), Joe Denly (Kent), Simon Jones (Worcestershire), Dimitri Mascarenhas (Hampshire), Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire), Matt Prior (Sussex), Owais Shah (Middlesex), Chris Tremlett (Hampshire), James Tredwell (Kent), Luke Wright (Sussex).