Latest news
Blackwell ready to stake claim
Ian Blackwell is confident his prowess with the bat will see him claim a place in England's Test team to face India.
Ashley Giles will miss at least the first game of the three-Test series because of a hip injury and Somerset captain Blackwell will fight for a place, along with Shaun Udal and Monty Panesar.
Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Matthew Hoggard are almost certain to play so Blackwell knows that the three inexperienced slow bowlers are battling over one place, although he is grateful for an unexpected chance to stake his claim.
Blackwell said: "Looking at the inexperience of the three spinners, I think England will probably look to use a spinner in a holding role.
"This is an opportunity to show England that Ashley is not the only left-arm spinner in the country.
"Udal is almost in the role of Giles, but a right-handed batsman. So he is probably a stock bowler who can offer a few runs.
"Monty is the better bowler out of the three. He is an attacking left-arm spinner.
"It's a great opportunity for me and Monty to show what we can do. Everyone has to start somewhere.
"I'd like to think I could do a job with the ball and possibly score a lot of runs as well.
"If they do want to go along the lines of a spinner who can bat then it must give me some sort of edge."
