By Stephan Shemilt at Edgbaston

Key hit 34 from 38 balls for Kent

Kent captain Rob Key says his side's performance in their Twenty20 Cup semi-final defeat to Somerset was "rubbish".

The 2008 finalists managed 145-5 from their 20 overs at Edgbaston, only for Somerset to get home with only three wickets down and seven balls to spare.

"The most disappointing thing, is that on the big day we've played poorly," Key told BBC Sport.

"Last year, we nearly chased down a big score and fell just short - you can take that on the chin."

Key added: "You don't mind getting beaten, but when you play rubbish it's pretty disappointing.

"You've got to be right on the money from the start, and we bowled a bit too full and wide and they had a big first over.

"That was the story of the game, we didn't bat or bowl well in the first six overs of each innings."

He was hard enough to bowl to for international bowlers, let alone county players Key on Trescothick

Somerset were led to victory by Marcus Trescothick, who smashed 56 from 32 balls, and Key was quick to pay tribute to the former England man.

"He's still one of the best players in the world," said the Kent skipper.

"He was hard enough to bowl to for international bowlers, let alone county players. He was good today, and we weren't.

"A score of 145 with a decent bowling show might have been all right, but when someone bats the way he did, you're always going to be struggling."

Key has been linked with a recall to the England side for the final Ashes Test at The Oval, beginning on Thursday, but he said he has not had time to think about having another go at international cricket.

606: DEBATE Feel utterly gutted to get stuffed like that. Well done Somerset, you made Kent look second-string today. Kentykentykentkent

"I haven't had a moment to catch my breath, especially as the captain of a county," said the right-hander.

"We've played three back-to-back four-day games, so I haven't had time to think about it.

"Sunday will be the first day I've had off for a while, and will be my first chance to look back on a hectic week."

The England and Wales Cricket Board plan to expand the Twenty20 Cup in 2010, but Key warned against saturating the summer schedule with the shortest form of the game.

"It's my worry that with an expanded Twenty20 competition, we'll have to cram in a lot of four-day cricket either side," he said.

"Twenty20 is a great form of the game, and it actually helps bowlers because they only have to bowl short spells.

"We've got to be careful to protect the quality of four-day cricket and the fitness of the bowlers."

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