Ian Blackwell has at last been given the recognition by the England selectors that Cider county followers have been expecting for sometime when he was named as the replacement for the injured Andrew Flintoff for the ICC Trophy this autumn.

The former Derbyshire man who has become such a favourite with the fans at the County Ground arrived at Lord's on the morning of the final to find the daily papers full of his picture and stories about his call up for international duty.

Earlier in the season `Blackie' had been one of twenty players who have been short listed for the Academy trip to Australia this season, and has been one of the success stories during a season when Somerset have struggled in all but the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy.

At the turn of the year he resolved to improve his lifestyle. He changed his dietary habits, cut out alcohol and set off on a course of fitness training that has had the desired effects.

He received a very warm welcome when he came to the wicket with the score on 159 for 3, and Somerset's newest recruit to the England stable was quickly off the mark when he took an easy single off the first ball that he faced from Matthew Hoggard.

Sadly after hitting a solitary boundary he was deprived of the chance to shine on the big stage at Lord's when he was comprehensively bowled by Ryan Sidebottom for 12.

No doubt the new England man will be disappointed by his performance out in the middle with the bat at Lord's, but all Somerset fans will want to congratulate `Blackie' on his selection and hope that he is as successful as the last left hander from the west country who was called up as a late replacement for international duty.

Certainly his skipper Jamie Cox rates him very highly. He told me: "I am absolutely delighted for Blackie.He has the ability to hit the ball hard at any stage of the game, and he must be given the chance to show what he can do at international level."

© SOMERSET