Ian Blackwell is the new Hero of the Week
There could only be one name for the new `Hero of the Week', and that is Ian Blackwell who was nominated without hesitation by both Peter Anderson and Kevin Shine, immediately after the momentous victory over Kent in the semi final of the Cheltenham,
A After we scored 345 we had to feel confident, but then Kent set off so well and they looked dangerous. When `Johnno' went off, and then Kent needed just 8 or 9 runs to win I really did think that it was slipping away. But then Keith Dutch and Simon Francis both got great run outs and all of a sudden we felt that we were back in the game, and of course as it turned out we were. `Franco's' run out was an instinctive piece of fielding and the turning point of the match for us.
A Apart from the NUL game against Yorkshire earlier in the season down here, when we lost by one run chasing over 300 this is the most exciting finish that I have ever played in.
A I think that Stuart Tudball, and a group of lads from Minehead that I coached during the winter were responsible for that, but all of the Somerset fans were right behind us all day, they were just fantastic and helped us to get that result.
A I have spoken to both Rod Marsh and Geoff Miller, and I am already on the short list of twenty for the Academy trip to Perth in the winter and my immediate goal is to go out to Australia on that trip. I have worked hard during the winter at my fitness and I think that it is all starting to pay off for me now.
A The next step is hopefully to get into the England squad.