Close England 183 (Williams 5-52) and 310 for 5 dec (Key 174*, Crawley 55 rh) drew with Australia A 352 for 3 dec (Love 201*, Clarke 50)
Scorecard

A defiant unbeaten 174 from Robert Key saved England from defeat against Australia A in the tour match at Hobart. Key batted throughout the final day, putting on 176 for the fourth wicket with John Crawley, as England restored some much-needed confidence ahead of the second Test in Adelaide on Thursday.

Key only made the tour after Graham Thorpe pulled out but has made the most of his chances in Australia. The team management are now left with the vexing decision of who to pick for the final slot in the batting order. Both Key and Crawley did their chances no harm here, though Crawley will probably edge it having done little wrong in the first Test.

"You never know how a chance to play might come up and all I can do is go on scoring runs," Key said. "It wasn't a Test, but it was important to get your pride up."

When the rival captains, Jimmy Maher and Marcus Trescothick, agreed to call off play, half an hour before the scheduled close, England had advanced to 310 for 5 in their second innings, an overall lead of 140 runs. Key and Crawley defied the Australia A attack for two sessions, before Crawley was forced to retire hurt, suffering from a bruised right hip after being struck by Brad Williams. The injury is not expected to keep him out of the Test.

While Crawley stonewalled – his 55 came off 216 balls - Key batted superbly, cracking 18 fours and making his highest first-class score. Not bad for a man who hardly ever bats in the middle order. He was dropped twice, however - difficult chances to Matthew Elliott on 87 and 155.

Queensland's Ashley Noffke came up with a fiery opening spell and Nathan Hauritz picked up two wickets late in the piece but the Australia A bowlers experienced little joy otherwise.

The only dark spot for England was a second failure for both Andrew Flintoff and Craig White. Based on their wretched displays here, neither man seems to want the allrounder's slot, and England might be better off cutting their losses, playing four bowlers, and shunting Key into the side at No. 6. He could hardly be in better form.

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