Rob Key made a swift return from England duty to lead Kent in their LV Division 2 County Championship match against Essex at Tunbridge Wells.

The Kent skipper, who sat out all but the opening defeat against Holland in the ICC World Twenty20 Championships, was available after England bowed out of the competition following defeat against the West Indies on Monday night.

Key replaced Sam Northeast from the team that drew against Leicestershire last week, while Amjad Khan plays his first game of the season, after suffering a knee injury on England's winter tour to the West Indies.

Essex, who won the toss and batted, were boosted by the return of James Foster and Graham Napier, while Test opener Alastair Cook was also in the side.

It's the first game between the two sides at the Nevill Ground for eight years when Kent recorded an innings victory.