Ravi Bopara heads back to Essex for some loving as rivals bid for his No3 spot

Bopara is one of five England players - Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood and Graham Onions are the others - released to play for their counties during the latest round of Championship matches, which begin today.

But with England's No3 spot likely to be up for grabs for next week's decisive Fifth Test at The Brit Oval after Bopara's miserable Ashes series, the focus will be on Essex's Division Two match at Lord's and Kent's game at Northamptonshire.

Key's last Test came against South Africa in January 2005 but his positive recent form - the 30-year-old scored an unbeaten 270 against Glamorgan last month - and his tough character mean he is a strong candidate to replace Bopara.

Bopara has managed just 105 runs in seven innings against Australia and made one and nought in the heavy defeat at Headingley.

Essex coach Paul Grayson said: "He's coming back to some familiar faces and a dressing room he's very happy with.

"He's still a top-class player but he's just lost a bit of confidence.

"Ravi's going to need some loving this week and hopefully he can get some runs. Let's hope he gets a big hundred this week at Lord's."

Bopara is not the only England batsman to be looking over his shoulder after a dismal display at Headingley from the middle order, who contributed 16 runs between them.

Ian Bell is another facing the axe after failing to perform under pressure once again and his Warwickshire colleague Jonathan Trott is a strong contender to replace him.

Both men were expected to be included in the clash at Nottinghamshire, while Collingwood and Onions should feature for champions and Division One leaders Durham at Lancashire.

Trott can also enhance his Test claims by shining for England Lions in the two-day game against Australia at Canterbury this weekend.

Key has been left out of that team as he is due to skipper Kent on Twenty20 finals day at Edgbaston on Saturday, while Mark Ramprakash has been overlooked.

There have been calls for the Surrey veteran to return but his county chief executive Paul Sheldon said: "He would do England proud if they picked him, but I think it is unlikely."