Rob Key and half a dozen of England's 'second string' cricketers could be pushing hard for firstteam places this summer if there are more calamities in the Caribbean.

Captain Key and his Lions squad are about to embark on a five-week tour of New Zealand which already looks to have extra significance in the wake of last Saturday's events in Jamaica where the senior team lost the First Test to West Indies by an innings after being routed for 51.

England's pitiful performance has left question marks over more than half the team with Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Ryan Sidebottom, Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar all needing to show why they should be considered leading candidates for this summer's Ashes series.

As for the Lions, Kent skipper Key and his county opening partner Joe Denly, prolific Worcestershire top-order batsman Stephen Moore, Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara and fast bowlers Amjad Khan and Sajid Mahmood, from Kent and Lancashire respectively, are among those who can do themselves the power of good by making big runs or taking a stack of wickets in New Zealand.

Four years have passed since Key won the last of his 15 Test caps but he wants to get back into the full England side.

"The England team doesn't seem like a closed shop and you do feel like there's something to play for," said the 29-year-old.