Rob Key revealed he expected the call from Kent to reprise his role as captain and says he feels he will be a stronger captain after a year away from the helm.

James Tredwell revealed on Wednesday afternoon that he was stepping down after just 51 weeks to focus on his role as one of England’s first-choice spinners in limited overs cricket.

The 31-year-old missed five of Kent’s championship matches, two YB40 clashes, four t20 games and the tour match with New Zealand while on England duty last season and with the prospect of further international commitments in Australia this winter, plus the visits of India and Sri Lanka to England next summer, his availability could be limited again in 2014.

Speaking at the handover on November 20, 2012, Key said he was ‘worn out,’ adding: “It takes a lot out of you, being captain. I’m in danger, possibly, if I continue, of not enjoying cricket as much as I could.”

However, the 34-year-old now insists that he feels refreshed and reinvigorated after an unburdened season and said: “There are a few new challenges but it’s never a bad thing to get a break from something.

“You come in from a different perspective. I feel I’m in a position of more strength how I approach the job and how I enjoy it.

“I’m excited and proud. I think it’s a time when there’s a lot of potential about. It’s a chance to leave a legacy and do something special here at Kent.

“To try to create something that will live on, a period of success that might not be in my career.

“I understood the dilemma Treddy was going through. It becomes a tough job. Captaincy is about everyone else and it’s a hard job when you’re not around.

“Any cricketer wants to play for England. As much as you want to do well for your county, you want to play for England and you don’t want anything to get in the way of that.

“I understood that at the end of a long year, he might not want to continue. I spoke to him a bit and I wasn’t surprised he stood down in the end.”

Key revealed: “The club rang me, you expect they’re going to ask the question and I had a bit of time to think about it.

“It’s not really about whether I want to do it or not, it’s whether the players and club think you’re the right person to do it – that’s the most important thing.

“You’re doomed if players don’t respect you, so I spent some time talking to the players before making a decision.”

Sam Northeast has been named vice-captain and Key said: “It’s important that there’s some kind of succession plan.

“It’s a chance for him to have an understanding about what the job’s about. It might not mean he’s the next to do it but he’ll be more prepared if it ever comes around.

“He has a good brain, he’s young but old before his time, in a nice way.”