Rob Key has given his backing to the appointment of former Kent coach Paul Farbrace as England assistant coach.

The Ash-born former Kent and Middlesex wicketkeeper who returned to Canterbury to run the Academy after his playing days and was head coach in the ill-fated 2010 and 2011 campaigns - was last week named as assistant to new England coach Peter Moores.

The 46-year-old had previously acted as coach of Sri Lanka and also had a spell in charge of the 2nd team at Yorkshire and former England opener Key – who had two years as skipper under Farbrace – said: “I think he’ll be fantastic for England. He’s popular wherever he goes, Farby, but he also has some very good views on the game.

“I don’t think we had any sort of disagreements about the way the game should be played and how people should move forward.”

Key predicted: “He’ll be excellent put in that international environment with the experience he’s got with Sri Lanka, Kent and Yorkshire. I think he’ll be a very good coach.”

Key also backed Moores as the right man to succeed Andy Flower as England chief, saying: “I think he is an excellent coach. I did a bit of work with him on England A tours and I thought he was fantastic.

“The period that England are going into you need a man with a lot of energy and real gumption to move them forward.

“He’ll be in there for the long-haul, hopefully. He’s the type of bloke that wherever he’s gone he’s been able to do that. He’s had success wherever he’s gone and he’s a very good judge of a cricketer.”