Rob Key insists Australian-born seamer Dan Worrall could represent England at Test level – opening up the possibility of a sensational Ashes return against his home country

Rob Key believes Dan Worrall – the Australian seamer who qualifies for England next April – can ‘make the jump’ to Test cricket, leaving open the possibility of a remarkable return home in 2025-26 to help his adopted country regain the Ashes.

The Melbourne-born 33-year-old, who appeared in three ODIs for Australia in 2016 but has a British passport, has spearheaded Surrey’s successful assault this season on a hat-trick of championship titles, taking 52 wickets at just 16 each.

And Key told Mail Sport: ‘You can’t not notice Dan Worrall. He just looks like a very good bowler. He’s highly skilled, and he looks like someone who is completely in control of his game. He is probably one of the best bowlers in the country playing domestic cricket.

‘He probably could make the jump. He’s got brilliant attributes to be an international bowler.’

Worrall, who has already expressed an interest in playing for England, also has plenty of experience bowling with the Kookaburra ball in his native country, having racked up 184 first-class wickets for South Australia.

The Australian-born seamer has impressed with Surrey of late and Kerr suggested he is capable of playing Test cricket for England

Key insisted: ‘It won’t be the case that we won’t pick him because he’s grown up in another country. England have had a lot of success picking people who have grown up abroad.’

Ten Australian-born cricketers have represented England at Test level, most recently opener Sam Robson in 2014. The last to appear in the Ashes where the Hollioake brothers, Adam and Ben, in 1997.