ROBERT Key’s claims to become England Twenty20 captain were enhanced when Andrew Strauss argued the best man for the job could come from the county ranks.

Strauss, England’s Test and one-day international captain, was omitted from a provisional 30-man squad for the World Twenty20 championship.

Strauss confirmed he is comfortable with the decision on the grounds that he believes he does not deserve a place in the team.

But it leaves the selectors searching for another captain and a new face would be England’s fifth across all forms of the game in the last 12 months.

Paul Collingwood, Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff have all indicated an unwillingness to take the reins again.

Key has not played international cricket for four years but his limited-overs success with Kent has put him right in the frame – and Strauss believes the extra exposure county players have had thanks to Twenty20 cricket makes them an attractive choice.

‘‘I think the fact some of the county guys have played more than the international players helps them,’’ said Strauss.

‘‘The rumours you hear on the county circuit is that Rob has done a pretty good job. He is a good operator and definitely one of the names on the list. KP has to decide how keen he is to come back as captain. They (Flintoff, Pietersen and Collingwood) have all had issues doing the job which makes them more reluctant to do it in the future.

‘‘That doesn’t mean they definitely rule themselves out – but that is something we will have to ask them.’’