Kent captain Rob Key has warned his players that first team places will be up for grabs following his team’s poor start to the season.

Key’s side suffered a 10-wicket Championship defeat to newly-promoted Nottinghamshire on Saturday and followed that with a 31-run Friends Provident Trophy reverse against Essex at St Lawrence 24 hours later.

He said: "We will have to look at what we’re doing in pre-season because we’ve suffered this sort of start for the last three years now.

"We’ve made noises about how we’ve strengthened the squad and there are no more excuses.

"If people aren’t performing then, as the captain, I have to start thinking of ways to make a difference.

"If anyone shows me some signs they are ready to come in and do a good job for us, then far as I’m concerned, team places are wide open."