‘No doubts he’ll handle workload’

has no concerns about the extra workload on an

all-action, wholehearted, multi-format and, above all, pivotal cricketer who last year took an extended break to protect his mental health. ‘I’ve no doubts about this after speaking to people who know him better than I do,’ said Key. ‘The last two years have been as tough for English cricket as it has ever been. I would argue that living in bubbles has meant the mental health of all players has taken a hit, to different degrees. And now we’ve got to move on from that.’ There were also encouraging words for Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, controversially left out of England’s tour of the Caribbean and seemingly consigned to history by Sir Andrew Strauss when he was interim managing director before appointing Key. ‘I spoke to them both when I was announced in this job and said, “Look, I know coaches are going to be coming in but for my money you guys are available for selection for the first Test”’, said Key. ‘Then, when I met Ben, one of the first things he said was, “I want the best team out there and Jimmy and Broady are part of that”. They were on great form when I spoke to them and there’s no reason why they won’t have a big part to play.’ Key is optimistic England will have a new Test coach in place before the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 2 that kicks off a summer of seven difficult matches against the Kiwis, India and South Africa. He has sounded out Gary Kirsten, the favourite, Simon Katich and Ottis Gibson about the job. ‘There are good names coming in from English and world cricket,’ he said. ‘I’m finding out about the ones I might not know so much about.’ Key also wants to return to a selection panel after the ill-fated decision of Ashley Giles to hand total responsibility to former coach Chris Silverwood. But on the role of national selector, he added: ‘I haven’t got an answer yet as to who the best person is.’