Ian Blackwell

Hampshire were undermined by a spell of sustained hostility from Liam Plunkett after Michael Carberry made a superb century in an opening stand of 183

Dual champions Durham needed plenty of backs-to-the-wall defiance, and some help from above, to eke out a draw against promoted Essex at the Riverside

Ian Blackwell hopes a strong start to the domestic season can propel him back into the England reckoning after a conversation with national selector Geoff Miller

The shy but not retiring England fast bowler gives his Durham colleagues a primer on what's out there

Somerset's former England opener, Marcus Trescothick, has been named the Most Valuable Player for 2009 by the Professional Cricketers' Association.

A round-up of the first day's play between Durham and Somerset at Chester-le-Street

Durham spent the third day of this match batting themselves solidly, even stolidly, into a strong position, but some rather puzzling defensive tactics in the final session may prevent them from forcing victory on the final day

Ian Blackwell picked up 6 for 85 but Lancashire fought hard on the second day against Durham

Durham were frustrated by poor weather on the second day of their Championship match with Warwickshire at Edgbaston

On another low, slow Edgbaston track where timing the ball proved difficult for all his colleagues, Blackwell compiled his first championship century for Durham

A round-up from the opening day of Twenty20 Cup action

For the neutral it would have been ideal to watch Steve Harmison bowl on a green-tinged Taunton surface, but there was no final opportunity for him to nudge the England selectors as Durham reached 372 for 6

Durham and Yorkshire shared an enthralling first-day's play at the Riverside Ground, and honours finished about even

Ian Blackwell couldn't have moved any further during the winter, uprooting his career from Somerset in the south west and transplanting into to the defending county champions, Durham, up in the north-east corner of England

Even for the of the hardy souls huddled up against the April chill inside Lord's there was very little to give away that this was the start of a crucial summer for English cricket

County Champions Durham have pulled off a major signing by bringing Ian Blackwell, the Somerset allrounder, to Chester-le-Street

Andrew McGlashan reports on the third day of the Championship clash between Somerset and Lancashire at Taunton

John Ward reports from the fourth day of Yorkshire against Sussex at Scarborough

John Ward reports from the second day of Yorkshire against Sussex at Scarborough