Rob Key has backed both Matt Coles and Sam Northeast to represent England after fine seasons for Kent.

The pair were named in the PCA Team of the Year on Tuesday night after impressive seasons at Canterbury. Northeast amassed some two thousand runs across all the formats, with Matt Coles picking up a hundred wickets in all forms of cricket.

Voted for by their peers, the Kent pair were in good company in the best eleven, but neither have been selected for England tours this winter.

Having replaced Key as Kent captain this season, Northeast has shown maturity beyond his years, with the former skipper backing both he and Coles to go on and get international honours if they carry on being successful at Kent:

“It’s strange really. If you look at the first part of those tours, it seems to be that they are going for a younger group of players with the odd senior player.”

“For me, Sam Northeast would be very close to playing for the full England side and Matt Coles has had a great year and can play for England as much as he wants, it’s all down to him really.”

“If he keeps developing and wants to do it, then he can do whatever he wants in the game.”

Coles was brought back to Kent after a brief stint with Hampshire and Key was instrumental in making that happen and he admits it was a good call to get the fast bowler to back where he belongs:

“He’s been brilliant really. I don’t think anyone thought he’d do what he did.”

“He’s always been a serious cricketer and it’s your job as a captain to manage the individuals and make sure they can perform out on the field and Colesy is one of the few genuine people in cricket who will give everything to try and win a game.”

“That will always do for me and hopefully he gets what he deserves in the future.”

Meanwhile, Key has praised Geraint Jones for finishing his professional career with Gloucestershire, winning the Royal London One Day Cup at Lord’s:

“It was a dream finish for him and he did an interview with Charles Colville in which he said he would only ever be remembered for one catch, but I think from our time together at Kent, I will always remember him as someone who genuinely always put the team first.”

“He couldn’t do enough for other people and he’s been a very, very good cricketer, but an even better bloke.”

“He continued that trend of great Kent wicketkeepers like Alan Knott and Steve Marsh and you almost forget the likes of Ryan Davies coming through will have had Geraint as their role model.”

“He has inspired the likes of Sam Billings and shown that you can go on and win an Ashes series playing for Kent.”

In little over a week, Key, Coles and Jones will join other cricketers as they cycle the 370 miles from Truro to The Oval in the space of just five days.

Getting on their bikes, the trio will set off from Truro on Friday 9th October, making visits to Taunton, The Ageas Bowl, Hove and ultimately The Oval as they take part in the PCA Big Bike Ride 2.

Raising funds for the PCA Benevolent Fund and Tom Maynard Trust, the bike ride will see the likes of Key, Coles and Jones joined by former Kent captain David Fulton, Steve Harmison and Marcus Trescothick.

As he gets on his bike, Key is hoping that he will raise some serious money for the great causes, admitting he has a plan to get through it:

“I think I will be alright. I’m planning on sitting behind Colesy as it is always easier when you’re cycling to have someone just in front of you, pulling you along, so Colesy has got that job.”

“I always used to give Stevo abuse for being a lycra lout, him turning up in all of that gear, but I’m actually loving it now.”

“I haven’t been drinking and ditched all the bad things I have been doing over the years, making sure I look after myself.”

“Cycling has taken over my life for a while, but that’s no bad thing. My only problem is the training runs as I live at the top of a hill!”

You can support Rob Key and the great causes, by visiting here: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/keysy1