Blackwell and Bulbeck on Academy shortlist for trip to Australia

On the back of their impressive six wicket victory over Hampshire at the County ground today in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy, there was even more good news for Ian Blackwell and Matt Bulbeck, who have both been named in the short list of twenty for this coming winter's Academy trip to Australia.

Chief executive Peter Anderson told me: "This has been a very good day for Somerset, who have been further buoyed up by the news that Ian Blackwell and Matt Bulbeck have both been short listed for the English Academy to be held in Australia this coming winter."

Twenty four year old Ian Blackwell, joined the Cidermen from Derbyshire for the 2000 season, and last year enjoyed his best ever season. During the winter he represented England in the Hong Kong Sixes, and earlier this season scored an impressive century against Yorkshire that was watched by England boss Duncan Fletcher.

For twenty two year old Matt Bulbeck this will be very welcome recognition that he is now fully fit and back to the level of performance that he had reached before he was forced to miss much of the last two seasons because of a back injury.

Earlier this evening `Blackie' told me: "Kevin Shine told me about it just after I returned back to the dressing room today. I am very, very pleased because it is the next step in my career that will hopefully go further. I hope now that I will get picked and then I impress them when I go out to Australia."