Rob Key is congratulated by Simon Cook after reaching his century against Surrey. Picture: Barry Goodwin

By Mark Stokes

Paul Farbrace says he hopes Rob Key’s century in the crushing championship victory over Surrey will prove to any doubters that his captain remains as committed as ever to the Kent cause.

Opener Key followed up his 162 against the same opposition last month with an unbeaten 110 in Kent’s second innings at Canterbury, and director of cricket Farbrace said the knock demonstrated both his character and ability.

Farbrace said: “Keysie spoke to the guys on Tuesday about responding from the 20-over defeat (against Leicester).

“He spoke brilliantly and I’m pleased for him because since the Essex game here (at Canterbury) in the Twenty20 he’s looked in great touch.

“His innings at Leicester (98 in the championship) was fantastic, his innings at The Oval was probably as good as there’s been in county cricket for some time, and in his innings here he showed great patience and great skill.

“He cares deeply about Kent Cricket Club, and was hurting as much as anyone at Leicester.

"Obviously as captain he thinks a lot about the team, and how the game should be played, and the way the team should play so to come and get a hundred in the situation he did, to see us to victory, he thoroughly deserved all the pats on the back he got on Friday night because it really was a high class innings in a difficult situation for us as a team and a club.

“Everyone is under pressure because results have not been good enough, but he really stood up and led from the front.

“If anyone anyone is in any doubt about Keysie’s determination to do well for Kent, that will hopefully keep a few people quiet because it was a magnificent innings.”

Key has scored 862 first-class runs for Kent so far this season at an average of 43.10.