'I desperately need a start' says Ian Blackwell ahead of second VB Series final

Following hot on the heels of their heavy defeat in the first VB final match at Sydney, the Somerset trio Ian Blackwell, Andy Caddick and Marcus Trescothick have travelled to Melbourne to face the Aussies again.

One of the trio Ian Blackwell, who will no doubt be anxious to get some runs on the board as well as taking wickets made contact ahead of the game.

`Blackie' said: " Well it's the eve of the second final at Melbourne and hot weather is forecast. Coming from Sydney after a good thrashing will be difficult to pick ourselves up but we have to give it our all. It's never easy playing against any country on top of their form but things are one hundred times more difficult when you are playing against the world champions in good form on their own turf! All we can do is enjoy the game and try to show them we have fight and spirit."

He continued: " It has been a long tour for everybody and I'm sure there are a lot of mentally and physically drained players in our squad. We have somehow got to put all that aside and pick ourselves up for this crucial game."

Regarding his own form he said: "I desperately need a start so that my confidence can grow and my batting can find the rails again. It's the worst feeling in the world not knowing where your next run is coming from, but that's how it feels for me at the moment. Still I'm sure we will do our best and that it will be an interesting match."

Meanwhile Ian Blackwell's Somerset colleague Neil Edwards will be at the M.C.G. watching his team mates performing for the senior before playing on the same ground the following day.

The England Under 19 batsman from Penzance, who played such a vital role in his sides victory over the old enemy in the first Test at Adelaide told me: "We got our first day off in Melbourne and will be watching the second one day final tomorrow."

He continued: "This week we have played the Victorian Institute of Sport in a two day game and a one day game. We managed to get a draw from the two day game which for a lot of us it was getting used to slightly different conditions in Melbourne. When I got 22 and batted well. Yesterday we played the one day match, narrowly losing by 2 wickets. I batted in a different position at number six and top scored with 54 which I really enjoyed."

Looking ahead to the Under 19's one day match on Sunday he told me: "Our preparations for the second one day match have been going well. We've reviewed and identified the errors from the first match and hopefully we can put it right and draw level in the series. We're all really excited about playing at the M.C.G."