Somerset all rounder Ian Blackwell was back at his desk at the County Ground this week after his flying visit to play for England in the Hong Kong Sixes.

The 23-year-old, who enjoyed his best ever season in the first class game in 2001, said: "It was a good trip but we didn't play as well as we might have done."

England started the competition with a match against Pakistan, who were fresh from the Sharjah Trophy and fielding a full strength team which included Wasim Akram and Shahid Afridi.

"We batted first and scored 49. They bowled very tight and Andrew Flintoff took five overs to score 18.They lost 4 wickets in beating us," Blackie told me.

"In the next match we beat Australia who included Craig McDermott, Dean Jones, Tom Moody, Brendon Julian and Kim Hughes in their side, and then we beat United Arab Emirates, who were a good side."

England finished as runners-up in their group to Pakistan, who were the eventual winners of the tournament, and in the semi-finals lost to a strong South African side.

In the play-offs for third place England had to face Sri Lanka, who batted first and scored 62.

"During the Sri Lankan innings I made the best catch of my career," Blackwell said. "I then opened for England with Matthew Maynard, and we were looking good until we lost three wickets in the second over. Douggie Brown then scored some runs and we ended up with 54, but had to settle for fourth place in the tournament."

"The competition was well-organised and we were very well looked after. It was an amazing place and I would love to go back there again and spend a little more time."

"All the lads got on really well during the trip, and I hope that I've enhanced my England chances by going to Hong Kong."

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