KENT opener Rob Key has held off experienced challengers Mark Butcher and John Crawley to win a place in England’s 16-man squad to contest this month’s VB one-day international series.

With first choice opening bat Michael Vaughan still hampered by a right-knee problem that required surgery just two months ago, Key won a call arms to the 15-match triangular series involving hosts Australia and Sri Lanka starting in Sydney on December 13.

Key, who has yet to play limited overs cricket for England, undoubtedly got the nod over Crawley and Butcher after his impressive performances in scoring 47 and 23 in England’s innings defeat in Perth.

He said: “I can see me having something of a floating role. I had half an idea I might get in because I knew the selectors wanted to rest Michael Vaughan’s knee, but I can’t really see from the squad where I might bat.

“Knight and Trescothick, the two left-handers, will open as they have been for a while, and Nasser is almost certain to be three. But then Ronnie Irani may go in at four, or it could be me, Owais Shah or even Alec Stewart.

He added: “I really enjoy one-day cricket nowadays, in fact my form for Kent this summer was pretty good."

England squad: Nasser Hussain (capt), Kabir Ali, Ian Blackwell, Andrew Caddick, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Ronnie Irani, Robert Key, James Kirtley, Nick Knight, Owais Shah, Jeremy Snape, Alec Stewart, Marcus Trescothick, Craig White.