 In the course of a long career he played for, among others, Surrey County Cricket Club (whom he captained for several years in the 1890s), Oxford University, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the Gentlemen.His highest score of 281, for Oxford against Middlesex at Chiswick Park in 1887, remains as of 2012 the highest first-class score made for the university.Key was born in Streatham Common, London.