Kent Cricket have appointed James Tredwell as their new captain after Rob Key decided to step down from the position.

Tredwell will replace Key with immediate effect and will skipper Kent in all forms of cricket from the 2013 season.

There had been much speculation about Key’s future since the end of the season and now the 33 year old has decided to step aside from the position he has held for the past seven seasons.

During his seven years of captaincy, Rob Key has led Kent to two Twenty20 Cup Finals and a Friends Provident Trophy final, and in 2007, the county lifted the Twenty20 Cup.

KSN understands Sam Northeast had been in contention to replace Key as Kent skipper, but the club have now opted to appoint 30 year old England off spinner James Tredwell who made his debut for the side back in 2000 aged just eighteen.

Despite resigning the captaincy, Key will contiune to play for the side and told Kent Sports News how he had been deliberating to resign the position since the end of the season.

Key made appearances for Kent at age-group level from the age of 11, before making his first class debut for Kent in 1998 at the age of 18. A right-hand opening batsman, he has since made 253 first-class appearances for Kent.

The opening batsman has also made many international appearances throughout his career, and was a member of the U19 squad which won the 1998 Cricket World Cup. Key was called up to the England A side in 1999, making his Test debut against India in 2002.

He toured Australia during the 2002–03 Ashes series and his One Day International debut came in 2003. He then returned to the England side for the series against the West Indies in 2004, during which he scored a double hundred at Lord’s; which earned him recognition as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year.

Key’s last Test matches came during England’s tour of South Africa during 2004–05 and a one-match return during the 2009 ICC World Twenty20.

Rob Key was named Kent Cricket captain following David Fulton’s resignation at the end of the 2005cricket season, and he has led Kent to two Twenty20 Cup Finals and a Friends Provident Trophy final.

He is one of Kent Cricket’s longest serving captains, joining a list of esteemed long serving captains which includes the likes of Lord Harris and Colin Cowdrey.

Kent Cricket Chairman of Cricket, Graham Johnson commented on the announcement during a Media Conference at the St Lawrence Ground; “This is a time to acknowledge two players who have come through the Kent system to play at the highest level. In Rob Key, we have to pay tribute to the longest serving Kent Captain in the professional era, his contribution has been immense.

“James Tredwell takes over in leading our team at an exciting time in the Club’s history and has all the right attributes and experience to build on the efforts so far and to take us  to the next level. Both typify all that is best about Kent Cricket.”

Tredwell commented on his appointment; “Firstly, with the rich tradition of the Club and all the great players and captains before, what a great honour it is to be asked to fulfil this position. Having come through the Kent system, it is with great pride I take on this challenge.

“Secondly. I would like to pass on my best wishes to Rob, being under his leadership on a personal note has taken my game forward and been a pleasure to play for.

“To fill his shoes will be a tough job as he performed the role admirably for a number of years, and tactically was in my opinion second to none. I see this opportunity as the next step in my career, and am really excited with the chance to tackle this challenge.”

Full interviews with Rob Key, James Tredwell, Jamie Clifford and Graham Johnson to follow on KSN.