Key - We are half-decent
Kent skipper eyes big-money Twenty20 tournaments
Last Updated: July 28, 2008 10:25am
Key: Champions League riches await
Robert Key is confident that Kent "can beat anyone" if they get the chance to compete in the Twenty20 Champions League.
"One thing we didn't do was hide."
Robert Key Quotes of the week
Key's men lost to Middlesex in a thrilling Twenty20 Cup final last Saturday to end their hopes of back-to-back titles.
Both counties are in line to compete in an eight-team tournament later in the year alongside the top two domestic teams from Australia, India and South Africa.
That event is expected to offer a £2.5 million jackpot for the winners but Kent's participation may yet be scuppered by their decision to employ Indian Cricket League 'rebels' Justin Kemp and Azhar Mahmood.
"(The Champions League) will be a good experience it if goes ahead," added Key.
"We are a half-decent side. We would do all right. Of course, it will be different conditions.
No idea
"I have no idea really what the standard will be like, who is going to be playing.
"I am sure there are going to be a lot of good teams in it. But, if we play well, we've got a chance to beat anyone.
"But, like I've said before, I'll wait until I get some plane tickets to go out there and then see if all the money that is talked about materialises when someone wins it."
Key is delighted at the way his players stood up and were counted during Twenty20 Cup finals day at the Rose Bowl, especially given the high stakes on offer for all four teams.
He added: "One thing we didn't do was hide. It is in big games like those that you find out about the character of players and everyone stood up. It was good.
"We played pretty well. The semi-final against Essex was almost as big as the final in terms of qualifying to enter other competitions (Stanford Super Series and Champions League) and the money people are going on about.
"With everything that was at stake, it was credit to all the sides the way they performed and behaved and the skill level throughout the day was high.
"Twenty20 is getting bigger and bigger and Saturday would have done no harm for Twenty20. That must have been brilliant to watch. That final was a great advert."
Robert Key
