Ian Blackwell

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Ian Blackwell

England
Personal information
Batting style Left-hand bat
Bowling style Slow left arm orthodox
Career statistics
Tests ODIs
Matches 1 34
Runs scored 4 403
Batting average 4.00 14.92
100s/50s -/- -/1
Top score 4 82
Balls bowled 114 1230
Wickets - 24
Bowling average - 36.54
5 wickets in innings - -
10 wickets in match - n/a
Best bowling - 3/26
Catches/stumpings -/- 8/-

As of 1 April 2007
Source: [1]

Ian David Blackwell (born June 10, 1978 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire) is an English cricketer. A left-arm orthodox spinner and middle-order batsman, he has played for England in one-day and Test sides and plays county cricket for Somerset.

Blackwell was called up for the England Test squad after Ashley Giles 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 6 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. 10 overs in the first ODI went for just 24 runs at the same time as picking up 1 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. He has since seen his place as spinner in England's ODI side taken by off spinner Jamie Dalrymple, of Middlesex, backed up by part time left arm orthodox bowler Michael Yardy.

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.

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