With his side already heading for championship relegation, Kent skipper Rob Key received further bad news on Friday when the ECB announced he was being fined £1,250 for his 'Muppet Show' criticism of the board's pitch inspectors.

Key slammed the ECB pitch panel trio of Chris Woods, Phil Sharpe and David Hughes for taking no action after his side's heavy defeat to Durham inside two-and-a-half days at the Riverside in August.

He has now been reprimanded and fined for a serious breach of ECB directives for a 'derogatory comment prejudicial to both the ECB and its members'.

In admitting the offence, Key said: "I fully recognise and understand my responsibilities as captain of Kent and acknowledge that the public comments I made following the ECB Pitch Panel were inappropriate and I offer my unreserved apology to all concerned."