By Andrew Gidley

Rob Key has admitted this season has been the toughest of his career.

The Kent skipper, speaking after the Spitfires’ Friends Life t20 quarter-final defeat against Leicestershire at Grace Road on Saturday, said: "It’s now down to each individual to have some pride. If your job is to score runs or get wickets, go out and do it.

"It’s been the toughest season of my career, there is no doubt about that but people are coming into form and it’s time to stand up and do something."

He added: "We have to show some responsibility. There are five championship games left (including the present one against Surrey) and that could be 500-plus runs or 20 wickets. We might not have much to play for as a team, as far as silverware but there is a lot of pride at stake. We have got to turn it around because we don’t want it to continue for the next few years."

Key seems happier about his own form, after having a injection to try and cure a wrist problem, which forced him to miss four games.

He missed out on a second championship hundred in successive games, out for 98 against Leicestershire in the Division 2 draw at Grace Road last Friday, and said: "The wrist is fine. I have spent enough time struggling for runs this summer and am looking forward to playing some
four-day cricket.

"I am getting a bit older, and people may be starting to think ‘can I still play?’

"Maybe you wonder that yourself sometimes, especially when it’s been as tough as it has been this year but that’s the same for all batsmen in the Second Division.

"It’s nice to have batted in the last couple of games like I used to when I was 26. I know it wasn’t that long ago but at the moment my body probably feels like a 50-year-old."

Caption: Rob Key plays forward during his knock of 35 against Surrey on the opening day of Canterbury Week