As Robert Key was making a compelling case to be considered for an England recall this summer with an unbeaten hundred for Kent against the New Zealanders in Canterbury, another familiar stocky figure was preparing for a long-awaited return to the Test arena.

At Old Trafford next month, in the second Test of England's series against New Zealand, Darrell Hair, the often controversial but highly regarded Australian umpire, will stand in a Test match for the first time since the abandoned fourth Test between England and Pakistan in August 2006 that precipitated his removal from frontline umpiring duties. He will also stand in the third Test of the series, at Trent Bridge, which starts on June 5, the ICC announced yesterday.

Hair and Billy Doctrove, the West Indian umpire, awarded the Test at the Brit Oval to England after Pakistan refused to play in protest at England being awarded five runs for alleged ball-tampering by the touring team. The ICC board passed a motion of no confidence in Hair in November 2006, meaning that, while he was retained on the panel of elite umpires, he could not stand in a top-level match.

No such sanction was applied to Doctrove, which led to Hair bringing a suit of racial discrimination against the governing body last autumn. After seven days of the employment tribunal he dropped his claim and the ICC agreed to reinstate him, subject to him taking courses to improve his communications skills.

Since the vote of no confidence, Hair, who was consistently rated as one of the three most accurate umpires in world cricket, had been involved only in matches involving associate nations. His most recent international was Ireland versus Scotland last July. Hair will stand alongside Simon Taufel, his compatriot, at Old Trafford. Steve Bucknor will be the other umpire at Trent Bridge, with Ranjan Madugalle the match referee for the series.

Key's innings yesterday means that, whatever the New Zealand fast bowlers might have heard about the greenness of early-season English pitches or the putative weakness of county cricket, it will cut no ice with them in future.

Key, an habitual Kiwi-basher who is likely to be in the England Lions team announced today for a four-day match against the touring team at the Rose Bowl on May 8, made 178 not out, while James Tredwell, whom the selectors know to be rather more than the journeyman pro that many might have imagined him to be, scored a career-best 123 not out. Together they surpassed Kent's record partnership for any wicket against any of the 11 New Zealand touring teams.

Eventually all the mighty have to fall: for F.E. Woolley and L.E.G. Ames (277 in 1931) must now be substituted J.C. Tredwell and R.W.T. Key (299 in 2008). It is, indeed, Kent's highest stand against any touring team. All credit to them because the bowling was by no means as bad as the scorecard suggests. It is a flat pitch, despite some bounce and movement for Chris Martin with the new ball and swing for Tim Southee.

Key always seems to start his seasons well, not least against touring teams in Canterbury. This was his fifth hundred against one of them and his third in succession against the Kiwis (Keywis, perhaps?) after making 114 and 117 not out in 2004. Perhaps he is inspired by the chestnut trees in fresh leaf and blossom on the cherries on this loveliest of grounds.

The limes are not yet out, but the Kent captain is in summer bloom, having almost carried his bat against Nottinghamshire and quickly shaken off the virus that ruled him out of the match away to Sussex last week to bat with impressive command after escaping a chance to second slip off Southee.

Tredwell played soundly and sensibly, timing the ball really well after reaching a second first-class hundred. After justifying his promotion up the order against Sussex, he has batted for more than 11 hours in his past three innings.

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