{{short description|English cricketer and umpire}} {{Use British English|date=February 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Ian Blackwell | image = Ian Blackwell 2009.jpg | country = England | fullname = Ian David Blackwell | nickname = Blackie, Blackdog, Donkey, Le Donk | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|6|10|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Chesterfield, Derbyshire|Chesterfield]], Derbyshire, England | heightft = 6 | heightinch = 2 | batting = Left-handed | bowling = [[Slow left-arm orthodox]] | role = [[All-rounder]] | international = true | internationalspan = 2002–2006 | onetest = true | testdebutdate = 1 March | testdebutyear = 2006 | testdebutagainst = India | testcap = 629 | odidebutdate = 18 September | odidebutyear = 2002 | odidebutagainst = Zimbabwe | odicap = 170 | lastodidate = 15 April | lastodiyear = 2006 | lastodiagainst = India | odishirt = 37 | club1 = [[Derbyshire County Cricket Club|Derbyshire]] | year1 = {{nowrap|1997–1999}} | club2 = [[Somerset County Cricket Club|Somerset]] | year2 = 2000–2008 | club3 = [[Durham County Cricket Club|Durham]] | year3 = 2009–2012 | club4 = [[Central Districts cricket team|Central Districts]] | year4 = 2010/11 | club5 = → [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club|Warwickshire]] <small>(on loan)</small> | year5 = 2012 | umpire = true | wt20isumpired = 4 | umpwt20idebutyr = 2021 | umpwt20ilastyr = 2025 | fcumpired = 78 | umpfcdebutyr = 2015 | umpfclastyr = present | listaumpired = 40 | umplistadebutyr = 2015 | umplistalastyr = present | t20umpired = 75 | umpt20debutyr = 2015 | umpt20lastyr = present | columns = 4 | column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]] | matches1 = 1 | runs1 = 4 | bat avg1 = 4.00 | 100s/50s1 = 0/0 | top score1 = 4 | deliveries1 = 114 | wickets1 = 0 | bowl avg1 = – | fivefor1 = – | tenfor1 = – | best bowling1 = – | catches/stumpings1 = 0/– | column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]] | matches2 = 34 | runs2 = 403 | bat avg2 = 14.92 | 100s/50s2 = 0/1 | top score2 = 82 | deliveries2 = 1,230 | wickets2 = 24 | bowl avg2 = 36.54 | fivefor2 = 0 | tenfor2 = 0 | best bowling2 = 3/26 | catches/stumpings2 = 3/– | column3 = [[First-class cricket|FC]] | matches3 = 210 | runs3 = 11,595 | bat avg3 = 39.57 | 100s/50s3 = 27/64 | top score3 = 247[[not out|*]] | deliveries3 = 31,618 | wickets3 = 398 | bowl avg3 = 35.91 | fivefor3 = 14 | tenfor3 = 0 | best bowling3 = 7/52 | catches/stumpings3 = 66/– | column4 = [[List A cricket|LA]] | matches4 = 254 | runs4 = 5,765 | bat avg4 = 27.19 | 100s/50s4 = 3/34 | top score4 = 134[[not out|*]] | deliveries4 = 8,885 | wickets4 = 207 | bowl avg4 = 34.30 | fivefor4 = 1 | tenfor4 = 0 | best bowling4 = 5/26 | catches/stumpings4 = 64/– | date = 4 October | year = 2024 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/9117.html ESPNcricinfo }} '''Ian David Blackwell''' (born 10 June 1978) is an English [[umpire (cricket)|cricket umpire]] and retired professional [[cricket]]er.<ref name=BBC21787668/> A [[left-arm orthodox spin]]ner and powerful middle-order batsman, he played for [[England cricket team|England]] at [[One Day International]] (ODI) and [[Test cricket|Test]] level, and most recently played [[county cricket]] for [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club|Warwickshire]] in the second half of the 2012 season. He was born at [[Chesterfield, Derbyshire|Chesterfield]] in Derbyshire.<ref name="blackwellsigns">{{Cite news |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22843771/ian-blackwell-signs-durham |title=Ian Blackwell signs for Durham |date=2008-11-18 |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=2020-04-16 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="cricinfoprofile">{{Cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/9117.html |title=Ian Blackwell |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=2020-04-16}}</ref>
==Domestic career== ===Somerset County Cricket Club=== Blackwell started off his career at [[Derbyshire County Cricket Club|Derbyshire]], before moving to [[Somerset County Cricket Club|Somerset]] in 2000 following a dispute with Derbyshire captain [[Dominic Cork]].<ref name=cricinfoprofile/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Dobell |first=George |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketer/content/story/121924.html |title=Blackie looms large |date=2 October 2002 |work=The Cricketer |access-date=2020-04-16 |language=en|via=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> He was appointed captain of Somerset for the last part of the 2005 season after the departure of [[Graeme Smith]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://infoweb-newsbank-com.rp.nla.gov.au/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AA&page=6&docref=news/10B9E7F95399AB70 |title=Blackwell to take charge |date=12 July 2005 |work=Bristol Evening Post |access-date=16 April 2020|url-access=subscription|via=NewsBank}}</ref> Having been appointed official captain for 2006, he had shoulder surgery and missed almost all of the season.
===Durham County Cricket Club=== After the 2008 season, Blackwell left Somerset and joined Durham.<ref name=blackwellsigns/> Blackwell's struggles with fitness and disagreements with the captain, [[Justin Langer]], were also factors in his departure from Somerset.<ref name="early ton">{{Citation |last=McGlashan |first=Andrew |title=Blackwell hopes for fresh start after early ton |date=10 April 2009 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22819738/ |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=10 April 2009}}</ref> Blackwell managed to lose {{convert|10|kg|lb|abbr=on}} over the winter.<ref>{{Citation |title=Leaner Blackwell hits Durham ton |date=10 April 2009 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/7994124.stm |work=BBC Sport |access-date=10 April 2009}}</ref> On his first-class debut for Durham, in the opening match of the 2009 English season, Blackwell scored a century against the [[Marylebone Cricket Club]], featuring a bowling line up including England hopefuls [[Sajid Mahmood]], [[Kabir Ali]], [[Tim Bresnan]], and [[Adil Rashid]].<ref name="early ton" /> Blackwell went on to have a productive season in 2009, scoring 801 runs at 40.05 and taking 43 wickets at 23.53 as Durham won the [[2009 County Championship|County Championship]] for the second successive year.<ref name=cricinfoprofile/>
===Warwickshire County Cricket Club=== Entering the 2012 season, having been afflicted by a second shoulder operation, Blackwell played few matches in the first half of the season for Durham. The county then agreed to loan him from August to [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club|Warwickshire]], who required coverage for the four-week absence of spinner [[Jeetan Patel]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/19273017 |title=Warwickshire loan move for Durham spinner Ian Blackwell |date=15 August 2012 |website=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=14 March 2013}}</ref> He arrived at Warwickshire in time to be part of another team which clinched a [[County Championship]].<ref name=cricinfoprofile/>
In January 2013, Durham terminated Blackwell's contract leading to his retirement from professional cricket in March 2013. After a third shoulder operation over the winter, Blackwell had been diagnosed with [[arthritis]] in his left shoulder.<ref name="BBC21787668">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/21787668 |title=Injury ends all-rounder's professional career |date=14 March 2013 |website=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=14 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Dobell |first=George |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22097115/durham-exit-see-end-ian-blackwell-career |title=Durham exit could end Blackwell career |date=16 January 2013 |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=16 April 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.durhamcricket.co.uk/news-and-media/ian-blackwell-confirms-retirement/ |title=Ian Blackwell Confirms Retirement |date=15 March 2013 |publisher=Durham Cricket |language=en |access-date=16 April 2020}}</ref>
==International career== Blackwell made his [[ODI cricket|one-day international]] debut for England in the 2002 [[ICC Champions Trophy]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-champions-trophy-2002-03-61114/england-vs-zimbabwe-7th-match-66186/full-scorecard |title=Full Scorecard of England vs Zimbabwe 7th Match 2002/03|work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=19 April 2022}}</ref>
Blackwell was called up for the England Test squad after [[Ashley Giles]] had to withdraw from the 2006 tour to India. After impressing in warm-up matches, he was selected for the 1st [[Test cricket|Test]] against India on 1 March in [[Nagpur]]. However, he was not frequently used by captain [[Andrew Flintoff]], only bowling six fairly expensive overs in the first Indian innings, in comparison to fellow left arm spinner [[Monty Panesar]]'s 42 overs. In the second Indian innings, Blackwell was initially more economical but as India went on an audacious chase of the huge total set to them by England, he was brought on to prevent the batsmen from scoring quickly, but conceded 18 runs in his first over. This came after a nervous innings of only 4 in his only opportunity with the bat, and Blackwell was subsequently dropped for the second Test, replaced by [[Liam Plunkett]].
Blackwell remained first choice spinner for the [[One Day International]] (ODI) series however. Although England lost the series 5–1, Blackwell's performances were encouraging and seemed to indicate he was ready to hold down a regular place in the team. Ten overs in the first ODI went for just 24 runs at the same time as picking up one wicket, his cheapest ever spell in an ODI, while he also picked up figures of 2–39 and 2–21. Blackwell looked set to make another Test match appearance against Sri Lanka, but suffered a shoulder injury which derailed his season. As a consequence he was replaced as spinner in England's ODI team, and was subsequently overlooked by the selectors.
His highest ODI score of 82 came in his second match in 2002 against [[India cricket team|India]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-champions-trophy-2002-03-61114/england-vs-india-11th-match-66190/full-scorecard|title=Full Scorecard of England vs India 11th Match 2002/03|work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=19 April 2022}}</ref> and his best ODI bowling figures were 3-26 against [[Australia cricket team|Australia]] in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/vb-series-2002-03-61122/australia-vs-england-11th-match-65639/full-scorecard|title=Full Scorecard of Australia vs England 11th Match 2002/03|work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=19 April 2022}}</ref>
==Umpiring career== While still playing, Blackwell got his first taste of umpiring, taking control of a handful of local matches in Durham.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Joshi |first=Gaurav |url=https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/sports-news/ian-blackwells-journey-as-an-emerging-first-class-umpire-and-challenges-from-the-other-side-of-stumps-5128361.html |title=Ian Blackwell's journey as an emerging First-class umpire and challenges from the other side of stumps |date=6 September 2018 |work=Firstpost |access-date=16 April 2020}}</ref> After retiring in 2013, Blackwell turned his full attention to umpiring, initially officiating in Minor County and Second XI cricket.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Edwards |first=Richard |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/bucolic-ian-blackwell-back-in-the-middle-9952339.html |title=Bucolic Ian Blackwell back in the middle |date=31 December 2014 |work=The Independent |access-date=16 April 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In December 2014 Blackwell was added to ECB's reserve list of first-class umpires.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/articles/ecb-reveals-umpire-appointments-2015 |title=ECB reveals umpire appointments for 2015 |date=10 December 2014 |publisher=ECB |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320153245/http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/articles/ecb-reveals-umpire-appointments-2015 |archive-date=20 March 2015 |access-date=19 December 2014}}</ref> Blackwell made his debut in First-class cricket in April 2015 in a match between [[Somerset County Cricket Club|Somerset]] and [[Durham MCC University]] at Taunton. He umpired his first match in the [[County Championship]] in April 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/7/7025/Umpire_in_First-Class_Matches.html |title=Ian Blackwell as Umpire in First-Class Cricket |website=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=16 April 2020}}</ref>
==See also== *[[One-Test wonder]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{cricinfo|id=9117}}
{{s-start}} {{s-sports}} {{succession box| |before=[[Graeme Smith]] |title=[[List of Somerset cricket captains|Somerset County Cricket Captain]] |years=2005–2006 |after=[[Justin Langer]] }} {{s-end}} {{England Squad 2003 Cricket World Cup}} {{ECB Umpires List}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blackwell, Ian}} [[Category:1978 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Cricketers from Chesterfield, Derbyshire]] [[Category:English cricketers]] [[Category:Derbyshire cricketers]] [[Category:Somerset cricket captains]] [[Category:Durham cricketers]] [[Category:Warwickshire cricketers]] [[Category:Central Districts cricketers]] [[Category:England Test cricketers]] [[Category:England One Day International cricketers]] [[Category:Marylebone Cricket Club cricketers]] [[Category:English cricket umpires]]