ENGLAND batsman Rob Key failed a late fitness test ahead of today’s Frizzell County Championship match with Gloucestershire at The Mote.

Key, in fine form with 649 championship runs at an average of 61.6, was counted out with a sore right forearm - the legacy of a fielding injury from the game against Surrey.

Kent’s England Under-19 batsman Joe Denly, also in good form with four successive centuries for Whitstable and Kent 2nd, was handed a championship debut in Key's place.

County captain David Fulton also elected to rest Martin Saggers, bringing Amjad Khan into the squad as replacement. Gloucestershire, without leading seamer Jonathan Lewis because of England duty, welcome back batsman Matt Windows after his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Left-arm spinner Ian Fisher is also recalled to the squad to provide another spin option alongside Upul Chandana, but Craig Spearman, Gloucestershire’s opening batsman, is unavailable.

Top order batsman Kadeer Ali and pace bowler James Averis have both been omitted from their squad.

Kent from: Fulton, Denly, van Jaarsveld, Walker, Stevens, Kemp, O’Brien, Cook, Patel, Khan.