Blackwell powers Durham performance

Durham 322 for 6 (Blackwell 107*, Stoneman 21*) v Warwickshire
Scorecard

Perhaps there's something about left-arm spinners. There no doubting the talent of either Ian Blackwell or Samit Patel, but both have failed to progress in international cricket due to perceived doubts about their fitness. Bermuda's Dwayne Leverock is hardly svelte, either.

But it's a shame. Both Blackwell and Patel have much to offer and, with England suffering for a lack of batting firepower at the World Twenty20, it might be time for a more open-minded approach. After all, the likes of Inzamam, Botham and Miandad were never size zeroes, but they'd surely win selection for most teams.

Certainly Blackwell batted very well here. On another low, slow Edgbaston track where timing the ball proved difficult for all his colleagues, Blackwell compiled his first championship century for Durham from 148 balls with 13 fours and a towering straight six off Jeetan Patel. It was his fifth time past 50 in nine championship innings this season and the 23rd first-class century of his career. Quite why Somerset let him go is baffling.

The change of scenery seems to have worked wonders for Blackwell, however. He has, he says, developed a new hunger (no pun intended) to regain a place in England's limited-overs team and this chanceless innings, in front of the England selector, Ashley Giles, will have provided a timely reminder of his qualities.

Durham were grateful for his contribution. At one stage they were teetering on 120 for 4 with Mark Stoneman forced to retire hurt with a thigh strain. But Blackwell, first with the support of Phil Mustard, and then with Gareth Breese, rebuilt the innings and earned his team a position of some strength.

Blackwell's primary contribution in this game might still be ahead of him. With each end of the pitch raked, the spinners found a surprising amount of assistance for the first day of a championship game. Patel and Ant Botha have already contributed 36 overs and, with Durham playing two spinners, they should be well placed to exploit conditions in the fourth innings. Sharp turn is anticipated.

Perhaps, had Warwickshire taken their chances, things would have been different. Altogether they spurned four catches of varying difficulty, with Tony Frost, in the slips, culpable twice. On these pitches, such profligacy is fatal.

Breese lived particularly dangerously. He was dropped twice in the slips (on 21 and 26) and enjoyed several other nervous moments. In between whiles, however, he attacked with relish and contributed an equal share of a merry sixth-wicket stand of 98 in 21 overs.

Though he went just three overs from stumps, superbly caught by Jim Troughton at deep square leg, Stoneman returned, with Gordon Muchall as a runner, to leave Warwickshire with the prospect of more hard work on day two.

Earlier Chris Woakes produced his best championship performance of the season. Gaining lavish swing in both directions, Woakes troubled all the batsmen and was rewarded with three lbw decisions. First Will Smith was set up by outswinger and fooled by an inswinger, before Di Venuto's patient innings was ended by one that swung in sharply and Muchall, who had looked in imperious form, was given no chance by one that kept horribly low.

Dale Benkenstein failed to benefit from two chances and pulled straight to square leg, while Mustard followed one that turned and was caught at slip. Through it all, however, Blackwell remained untroubled. Whether cutting, driving or pulling, he displayed characteristic power but also admirable shot selection. Against an attack that performed admirably and in conditions offering them some assistance, this was a valuable and high-quality innings.

"It's very pleasing," Blackwell said afterwards. "It's a tacky sort of pitch where there's always something happening and, at 120 for 4, it was an important passage of play.

"I'm desperate to regain a place in the England one-day side. Maybe it has something to do with turning 30, but it does seem that it's pretty much now or never. It's the main reason I've come to Durham. I was in my comfort zone at Taunton and I knew I needed to progress. My career was drifting away from me and the clock was ticking.

"I know my England stats don't do me justice, but if I didn't think I could play at the highest level I'd consider giving up completely."