Following his remarkable innings against Yorkshire in the county championship match recently Ian Blackwell has been named as the new `Somerset hero of the week'.

Going out to bat when the Somerset innings appeared to be in danger of collapsing `Blackie' set about the Yorkshire attack to score an invaluable 114, going to his century off the penultimate ball of the day with a gigantic six over the Ridley Stand off the England spinner Richard Dawson

Earlier in the innings the Somerset all rounder had dispatched Matthew Hoggard, another England bowler for 28 off one over, 4x4's and 2x6's.

The whole of Ian's innings was watched by England boss Duncan Fletcher, who will no doubt have made a note of his name for future reference.

`Blackie' didn't know that the England boss was on the ground and told me: "I'm glad that I didn't know that Duncan Fletcher was here, because if I had I might have been tempted to play it differently. As it was I just went out and played my natural game, and it paid off."

Ian Blackwell, who will be twenty four in June joined Somerset from Derbyshire at the start of the 2000 season, after making his debut for the midland county in 1997.

Since he joined the Somerset `Blackie' has become a firm favourite with the crowds as a result of his aggressive batting and his slow left arm bowling that has often seen him take wickets after being brought into the attack in difficult situations.

Last season he enjoyed his best ever season in the first class game, scoring nearly 800 runs in the county championship as well as taking 18 wickets.

At Northampton last year `Blackie' became the first number seven batsman to score back to back hundreds in the county championship, a feat about which he is very proud.

`Blackie' also enjoyed considerable success in all of the one-day competitions last year, including scoring 433 runs and taking 12 wickets in the N.U.L. National League. Last season he was the leading Somerset big hitter in the N.U.L. competition with a total of 8 sixes to his name.

When I caught up with him earlier this week he gave me the following answers to the questions that were sent in by Thomas and George.

Q. What Sports do you enjoy apart from cricket?
A. Definitely golf, beating `Bully' on the golf course! I play off a handicap of six but perhaps I should keep that quiet. I have beaten `Bully' the last three times that we have played, and he's not too happy about it. He is about the same standard as me so we always have a good game. I also follow Chesterfield F.C. because they are my local football league team, and I always look for their result first on a Saturday afternoon.

Q. Who was your idol when you were young?
A. Definitely Ian Botham, although I don't think that I ever saw him play live. I grew up watching him on the television, and have tried to emulate him with my attacking style of batting.

Q. Who is your favourite pop star or band?
A. I like the controversial Eminem, they are always in the news and of course Oasis as well.

Q. What do you do in your spare time?
A. I like to play golf, relax, go shopping and I have also spent quite a lot of time recently decorating my new house.

Q. Where did you go to school, and when did you start to play cricket?
A. I first went to school at Old Hall Primary School in Chesterfield and then went to Manor County School. I did my `A' levels at Brookfield County School and when I left there I joined Derbyshire in 1997. I started going with my dad to Wingerworth CC where he used to play, and began as scorer for the team. Then when I was about ten or eleven they were short so I used to make up the numbers playing men's cricket. When I was nine I played for Derbyshire Under 11's and then went onto play at Under 13 and Under 15 level. I first played for Derbyshire Second XI when I was sixteen and scored 132 not out against Gloucestershire in my first match. In 1996 Derbyshire wanted me on a summer contract when Dean Jones was there, and I joined the staff in 1997. My debut match for the county was against Australia, and my first ever wicket was Steve Waugh- not a bad one to start with!

Q. What is your favourite food?
A. Curry or steak, and of course I'm always partial to a Sunday roast!

Q. How much training do you do every week, and are there any special exercises?
A. It all depends on the state of the season. I'm not doing so much now as I was in the winter, but I still train two or three time a week, usually with Simon Francis, depending on where we are. I've just got a new training programme that I am following.

Q. What has been your most memorable match for Somerset?
A. Apart from the C and G final, the game against Northants last year when I scored back to back hundreds. In fact every time that I score a century is memorable, there is no feeling quite like it for me.

Q. Apart from the County Ground at Taunton, which is your favourite cricket ground and why?
A. Wantage Road at Northampton is my favourite, they always have a good batting wicket there.

Q. What are your cricketing ambitions?
A. I want to score runs and do well in a winning Somerset team and this year I want to try to get into the squad for the World Cup, or to go with the England Academy at the end of the year. I think I helped my cause with my innings in front of Duncan Fletcher last week against five England bowlers who were playing for Yorkshire.

Thank you Ian for answering our questions and giving us so much information about yourself. I am sure all website readers wish `Blackie' every success for the coming season and hope that his ambition is fulfilled.

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