Appointed the new managing director of England men's cricket on Sunday (April 17) despite holding little administrative experience, his former teammate and Sky Sports colleague is confident he can succeed
Rob Key has the grounding to achieve success as the new managing director of England men's cricket despite his lack of administrative experience, according to Nasser Hussain.
Ashley Giles' replacement was unveiled on Sunday (April 18) "following a thorough recruitment process," according to ECB chief executive Tom Harrison.
Key enjoyed a 17-year professional career with Kent and featured in 15 Tests, five one-day internationals and a single T20I for England, before turning to a media career.
Despite a wealth of experience in and around the sport, the 42-year-old has little administrative experience but did serve on the ECB cricket committee.
Mark Ramprakash has expressed concern over the appointment, telling The Guardian the ECB should have embarked on a wider search for Giles' successor.
He said: "There has always been an element of jobs for the boys in cricket and society – you only have to look at the government to see that – but I do think we should have been looking outside the box."
Appointing replacements for Joe Root and Chris Silverwood will be among Key's chief tasks (Steve Bell/Getty Images)
But Hussain, captain of England in 45 Tests and 56 ODIs, told Sky Sports: "I've already seen tweets and comments about 'jobs for the boys' and those asking how administration he has actually done previously?
"It is an administrative role, that is correct, but I'd rather have a cricket person as MD of cricket, someone who understands the game, as opposed to someone who can do an excellent PowerPoint presentation. He will have to work on the administrative side.
"He is very friendly with the players, and the players will be pleased that Rob Key is the new MD of England, but he's going to have to be tough with the players, and he will have to say no to the players at times.
"He turned to me about a year ago and asked: 'How many things has Ashley Giles said no to? Other than taking football away from warm-ups, what else has he said no to?'
"Rob Key will have to find out soon that he will have to be unpopular at times. Leadership is not a popularity contest, he's going to have to say to the players and coaches at times: no, we are not going that way.
"I am absolutely certain, from what I know of Rob Key - he plays the fool, but he's no fool, he's a very smart cookie."
Mark Ramprakash has questioned Key's appointment (Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)
There will be no time for Key to enjoy a honeymoon period, with the appointment of a new head coach and Test captain among the items in his in-tray.
Chris Silverwood was dismissed after the 4-0 Ashes series defeat to Australia, while Joe Root stood down as skipper last Friday (April 15) following a run on one Test win in the last 17.
And Key will also have to determine whether to retain the reformed selection structure which handed complete responsibility to the head coach.
"The short-term has to be the two or three major decisions he has to make," added Hussain. "I think the coach is a very important one because they have to decide the captain, but you want the coach's input on who he feels the captain should be.
"I'd probably say coach first, although I would make a journey up the A1 to speak to Ben Stokes to see where he is mentally, physically, and if he wants the job and feels he's in the right place to do the job as England captain - but you'd also want the coach's input.
"Another major decision is selection: Is he going to go back to the selection committee as it was previous to the Silverwood-Root era where the coach and captain select the side?"
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