Kent County Cricket Club have announced that Rob Key will return to skipper the side from next season.

Key returns to the job as Kent captain, replacing James Tredwell after just one year in the job, with the spinner deciding to concentrate on having the best chance of featuring for England in the future.

After seven years of captaining Kent between 2005 and 2012, Key will be familiar with the role and makes his return to the helm with Sam Northeast appointed as vice captain.

Key takes up the position of Club Captain with a record as one of Kent’s longest serving captains, having succeeded David Fulton as Kent Cricket captain at the end of 2005, and leading the side until the end of 2012.

James Tredwell indicated his intention to step down from the role of Captain at the end of the 2013 season, recognising that his continued involvement with Team England would not enable him to give the role the time and effort he would like.

Announcing his intention to stand down, Tredwell commented; “It was with great honour that I took on the captaincy role twelve months ago, and it has been a very tough decision to not carry on.

“However my increased involvement with the England one day squad over last winter and our summer meant I missed large chunks of time in Kent colours and found this particularly difficult.

“This may or may not be the same going forward, so in the eventuality I may not be around I feel it is in the best interests of our team here at Kent that I stand aside.”

Kent Cricket Chairman of Cricket, Graham Johnson commented on the announcement; “We respect James’ desire to focus on his England career and we thank him for his leadership during the 2013 season. James remains committed to the Club and retains his desire to offer leadership to the Club in the future. That he has that capability is recognised by Kent and indeed Team England, who selected him as captain of England during the 2013 season.”

“In Rob, clearly we have someone with all the attributes required of a captain who has shown a great commitment to the county over a great number of years, and a player who has progressed through the Kent system. Having had a season off from what is a demanding role, he shows a renewed desire for the role and an appreciation of what it will take to develop Kent’s on field performance from a squad with much potential. 

“Sam, as Vice-Captain has also risen through the Kent system, demonstrating a great deal of potential and contributing to the Club at the highest level. The combination of the two is exciting and the early announcement gives us all plenty of time to achieve clarity of purpose across a number of areas and to provide a focus for the 2014 season and all that it promises. Our objectives remain the same, the challenge is to achieve the higher level of performance delivery to which the players and those following Kent aspire.”

Rob Key commented on his appointment; “I’m delighted to take the reins again. I believe we have a talented group of players and I hope to lead them to success.”

Sam Northeast commented on the news; “It is a huge honour to be given this opportunity to contribute to Kent. It will be good to work under Rob and I hope I can learn from him. I’m looking forward to the 2014 season and I hope we can put things in place which will bring success.”