Ian Blackwell
Encyclopedia
Ian David Blackwell is an English
cricket
er. A left-arm orthodox spin
ner and powerful middle-order batsman, he has played for England in one-day and Test
sides, and plays county cricket
for Durham
, having left Somerset
at the end of the 2008 season.
had to withdraw from the 2006 tour to India. After impressing in warm-up matches, he was selected for the 1st Test
against India on 1 March in Nagpur
. However, he was not frequently used by captain Andrew Flintoff
, only bowling six fairly expensive overs in the first Indian innings, in comparison to fellow left arm spinner Monty Panesar
's 42 overs. In the second Indian innings, Blackwell was initially more economical but as India went on an audacious chase of the huge total set to them by England, he was brought on to prevent the batsmen from scoring quickly, but conceded 18 runs in his first over. This came after a nervous innings of only 4 in his only opportunity with the bat, and Blackwell was subsequently dropped for the second Test, replaced by Liam Plunkett
.
Blackwell remained first choice spinner for the ODI series however. Although England lost the series 5-1, Blackwell's performances were encouraging and seemed to indicate he was ready to hold down a regular place in the side. Ten overs in the first ODI went for just 24 runs at the same time as picking up one wicket, his cheapest ever spell in an ODI, while he also picked up figures of 2-39 and 2-21. Blackwell looked set to make another Test match appearance against Sri Lanka, but suffered a shoulder injury which derailed his season. As a consequence he was replaced as spinner in England's ODI side, and was subsequently overlooked by the selectors.
He started off his career at Derbyshire
, before moving to Somerset
in 2000 following a dispute with Derbyshire captain Dominic Cork
. He was appointed captain of Somerset for the last part of the 2005 season after the departure of Graeme Smith
. Having been appointed official captain for 2006, he had shoulder surgery and missed almost all of the season.
After the 2008 season, Blackwell left Somerset and joined Durham. Speaking of the move, Blackwell said "Making this cricketing decision has been the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I hope I am able to utilise my move to Durham so I am able to progress in all formats of the game and push for future England recognition". Also a factor in his departure from Somerset was Blackwell's struggles with fitness and disagreements with the captain, Justin Langer
. Despite having struggled with his fitness, Blackwell managed to lose 10 kg (22 lb) over the winter. On his first-class debut for Durham, in the opening match of the 2009 English season, Blackwell scored a century against the Marylebone Cricket Club
, featuring a bowling line up including England hopefuls Sajid Mahmood
, Kabir Ali
, Tim Bresnan
, and Adil Rashid
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er. A left-arm orthodox spin
Left-arm orthodox spin
Left-arm orthodox spin is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket.Left-arm orthodox spin is bowled by a left arm bowler using the fingers to spin the ball from right to left of the cricket pitch...
ner and powerful middle-order batsman, he has played for England in one-day and Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
sides, and plays county cricket
County cricket
County cricket is the highest level of domestic cricket in England and Wales. For the 2010 season, see 2010 English cricket season.-First-class counties:...
for Durham
Durham County Cricket Club
Durham County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Durham. Its limited overs team is called the Durham Dynamos. Their kit colours are blue with yellow trim and the shirt sponsor was...
, having left Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
at the end of the 2008 season.
Career
Blackwell was called up for the England Test squad after Ashley GilesAshley Giles
Ashley Fraser Giles MBE is a retired English cricketer. Giles played the entirety of his 14-year first-class career at Warwickshire County Cricket Club where he is now employed as Director of Cricket...
had to withdraw from the 2006 tour to India. After impressing in warm-up matches, he was selected for the 1st Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
against India on 1 March in Nagpur
Nagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
. However, he was not frequently used by captain Andrew Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff
Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff MBE is a former English cricketer who played for Lancashire County Cricket Club, England and the Indian Premier League team Chennai Super Kings. A tall fast bowler, batsman and slip fielder, Flintoff according to the ICC rankings was consistently rated amongst the top...
, only bowling six fairly expensive overs in the first Indian innings, in comparison to fellow left arm spinner Monty Panesar
Monty Panesar
Mudhsuden Singh Panesar, known as Monty Panesar , is an English cricketer who currently plays for Sussex. A left-arm spinner, Panesar played Test and one-day cricket for England until 2009. In English county cricket he played for Northamptonshire until 2009...
's 42 overs. In the second Indian innings, Blackwell was initially more economical but as India went on an audacious chase of the huge total set to them by England, he was brought on to prevent the batsmen from scoring quickly, but conceded 18 runs in his first over. This came after a nervous innings of only 4 in his only opportunity with the bat, and Blackwell was subsequently dropped for the second Test, replaced by Liam Plunkett
Liam Plunkett
Liam Edward Plunkett is an English cricketer, who plays for Durham and England. In the 2005 season he was Durham's leading first-class wicket-taker, with 51 wickets at a bowling average of 30.84, including eight for 88 in his first game of the season against Leicestershire.-Test cricket:Plunkett...
.
Blackwell remained first choice spinner for the ODI series however. Although England lost the series 5-1, Blackwell's performances were encouraging and seemed to indicate he was ready to hold down a regular place in the side. Ten overs in the first ODI went for just 24 runs at the same time as picking up one wicket, his cheapest ever spell in an ODI, while he also picked up figures of 2-39 and 2-21. Blackwell looked set to make another Test match appearance against Sri Lanka, but suffered a shoulder injury which derailed his season. As a consequence he was replaced as spinner in England's ODI side, and was subsequently overlooked by the selectors.
He started off his career at Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
, before moving to Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
in 2000 following a dispute with Derbyshire captain Dominic Cork
Dominic Cork
Dominic Gerald Cork is a former English cricketer. Cork is a right-handed lower-order batsman who bowls right-arm fast-medium, and is renowned for his swing and seam control. Making his début in first-class cricket for Derbyshire in 1990, he was selected to play for England in 1992, aged 21. He...
. He was appointed captain of Somerset for the last part of the 2005 season after the departure of Graeme Smith
Graeme Smith
Graeme Craig Smith is a South African cricketer and captain of the South African cricket team Test Match side, having succeeded Shaun Pollock after the 2003 Cricket World Cup...
. Having been appointed official captain for 2006, he had shoulder surgery and missed almost all of the season.
After the 2008 season, Blackwell left Somerset and joined Durham. Speaking of the move, Blackwell said "Making this cricketing decision has been the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I hope I am able to utilise my move to Durham so I am able to progress in all formats of the game and push for future England recognition". Also a factor in his departure from Somerset was Blackwell's struggles with fitness and disagreements with the captain, Justin Langer
Justin Langer
Justin Lee Langer AM is a former international cricketer who represented Australia in 105 Test matches and the current Assistant Coach and Batting Coach of the Australian cricket team. A left-handed batsman, his opening partnership with Matthew Hayden was one of the most successful of all time...
. Despite having struggled with his fitness, Blackwell managed to lose 10 kg (22 lb) over the winter. On his first-class debut for Durham, in the opening match of the 2009 English season, Blackwell scored a century against the Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
, featuring a bowling line up including England hopefuls Sajid Mahmood
Sajid Mahmood
Sajid "Saj" Iqbal Mahmood is an English cricketer of Pakistani descent...
, Kabir Ali
Kabir Ali
Kabir Ali is an English cricketer who currently plays for Hampshire in the English County Championship. A right-arm seam bowler and useful lower-order right-handed batsman, outside cricket he works as a model...
, Tim Bresnan
Tim Bresnan
Timothy 'Tim' Thomas Bresnan is an English cricketer. He is a fast-medium bowler, as well as being respected for his ability with the bat for Yorkshire. He normally fields in the deep. He won the NBC Denis Compton Award in 2002 and 2003. In June 2006 he was called up to the England One Day...
, and Adil Rashid
Adil Rashid
Adil Usman Rashid is an English cricketer of Pakistani origins, who plays for Yorkshire. Previously a player with England Under-19s, in December 2008, he was called into the full England Test squad, for the Test matches to be played in India...
.