THE memories of Robert Key's first visit to the Riverside are as vivid as ever, almost a decade after he played there as a starry-eyed teenager.

Imprinted on Key's mind are the Chester-le-Street stands, the seemingly huge dressing rooms - and the Arctic conditions that greeted the burly 15-year-old.

"It was incredibly cold and I wore about three jumpers," he recalled. "I was used to playing on tiny club grounds around London, so to play at Durham in its first year as a county cricket venue was an amazing experience.

"It was my debut for the Second XI and it was all very strange. It was my first match at a ground with proper stands.

"I also remember thinking how massive the dressing rooms were, and things like that stayed in my mind. I recall the ground better than I do my own innings, when I think I scored 30-odd.

"They are very special memories and I think the experience helped make up my mind about how much I wanted to play cricket."

Four years after his Durham debut, Key embarked on a tour with Steve Harmison. The pair forged a friendship that lasts to this day. Even in the last 12 months their Test careers have followed similar paths. Both made their England debuts last summer; both enjoyed a better Ashes series than their statistics would suggest.

And now, the pair are looking for good performances against Zimbabwe to cement their places in the national team.

Key said: "With England, you know you've got to score runs or you're out of the side.

"Maybe if I was 28 or 29, this would be a do-or-die game for me. But I'm still only 24 and I've got my whole career ahead of me.

"Having seen Test cricket from close up, I'm absolutely convinced I can score runs at this level and I back myself to do so.

"I'm desperate to get some big runs soon but I feel in good nick and I know they will come."

Harmison's efforts at Lord's - when he was overshadowed by debutant James Anderson - did not go unnoticed by Key.

He only took three of the 19 Zimbabwe wickets that fell on the third day, but Kent star Key reckons Harmison will rout a Test line-up soon. He added: "We've been big mates since we toured five years ago and Steve has always had amazing natural ability.

"He's like a West Indian in that he has the ability to bowl at 90mph without any difficulty at all.

"It's only a matter of time before he hits top form and goes through a team.

"He bowled very well at Lord's but it was typical of him to pick up a couple of wickets here and there.

"He never seems to get startling figures because he puts batsmen under so much pressure.

"There are often very few scoring shots you can score off Steve, which means the bowler at the other end often takes a wicket.

"Steve's very fast, which means a lot of batsmen think they should knock the other bowler around a bit, and then promptly get out.

"Steve is a passionate Geordie and I know how much this Test means to him. This is a great occasion for him.

"He's already had all of my complimentary tickets and he's been asking around the dressing room for everyone else's.

"He could even be asking the touts for a few extra tickets before the match!

"I think there are about 50 million Geordies coming to this game because Steve's a bit of a local legend!"