BATSMAN Rob Key will miss two of Kent’s Twenty20 Cup ties after being selected to captain England A in a four-day game against Pakistan in Canterbury from July 6.

The decision means county vice-captain Min Patel will step up to lead the Spitfires in their Floodlit cup tie at Hove on Thursday, July 6 and at Chelmsford the following evening.

In the meantime Key, who led England As to victory over Sri Lanka at the start of the summer, will skipper an A side that includes five players with full Test experience.

He should return to the Kent fold in time to play in their final Twenty20 tie against Surrey in Canterbury on Tuesday, July 11.

England A squad: Robert Key (Kent) captain, Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Ravinda Bopara (Essex), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Leicestershire), Alastair Cook (Essex), James Dalrymple (Middlesex), Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire), Alex Loudon (Warwickshire), Chris Read (Nottinghamshire), Owais Shah (Middlesex).