Blackwell bides his time

Back in October, Ian Blackwell might have had high hopes of consolidating his England one-day place with a winter of steady performances. But things have not quite panned out as he might have liked, and of all the players sat kicking their heels in the dressing-room this weekend, he may have been the most frustrated of the lot. Poor weather, poor performances, and poor opposition have turned England's one-day winter into a write-off, and Blackwell has been the most underemployed of their first-choice XI.

First up came three seven-wicket victories against Bangladesh in November, in which Blackwell bowled a grand total of six overs and did not have a chance to bat as Andrew Flintoff hogged the limelight. Then, a week later in Sri Lanka, England were bundled out for their lowest overseas total of 88 (of which Blackwell's contribution was a 12-ball 3), before rain washed out the remaining two fixtures of that series. Rain has had a major say in this series as well, and Blackwell's only meaningful contribution in nine scheduled fixtures has been his 21-ball 27 in Guyana last Sunday.

"I believe I'm good enough to be here," said Blackwell, "but I haven't had that much to do. It's an awkward situation being an allrounder of the kind I am, because when we're knocking off a small total I rarely get a chance to bat and if the seamers do a good job then I won't be called upon to bowl. I'm not someone like Flintoff who gets to bowl his 10 overs and then gets to smash things around the park. It's just a waiting game I have to play."

Blackwell has since been bumped up the order to No. 6, which should enable him to show the selectors what he is capable of, assuming the rains abate. "I wouldn't say I was a frontline spinner anyway," he added. "I'm just there mainly to get a few overs in if needs be. My job might actually be part-time, so that can be a bit frustrating."

But if he is feeling frustrated, Blackwell is doing his best not to show it. "Andrew Strauss has been there when he sat out the three matches in Bangladesh," he added. "it's all about being in a unit. You're in a 15 and if you're not playing you can't get disheartened - as long as England keep winning and we're all doing the right things you have to be happy.

"Generally, my game-plan is to go out and play my shots, that's why I got selected and that's what I do for Somerset and they obviously see that as an advantage. Hopefully I might get to bat with Freddie for 10 overs in one match and we can have some fun."