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Ian Blackwell: my debut wicket - Steve Waugh

The memory that stands out in the early days for me was my first class debut. I had signed a summer contract with Derbyshire at the age of 17. It was a bolt out the blue when the call came. I hadn't played a first team game but was playing regularly for Derbyshire CCC seconds and Chesterfield CC.

It was an Ashes year and Mark Taylor was under pressure as captain of the touring team. We had a 3 day game against Australia as a warm up for their ashes tour. I got a call. OMG I'm making my first class debut against Warne, Taylor, Steve Waugh, Elliott, Blewett, Langer, Bichel, Healy and Gillespie. Needless to say I was nervous. We had a steady team at the time, Chris Adams, Phil Defreitas, Dean Jones, Karl Krikken among a few.

Two things happened for me that I thought were impossible. The first was I took a wicket to claim my first first class wicket. None other than Steve Waugh!!!!! Steady first scalp. The second was even more ridiculous! Chasing a target of 371 we knocked off the target 9 wickets down in 68 overs (yes I contributed 0 + 5 but I didn't care) I played my first first class game against the best in the world, took a wicket and ended up on the winning team. I couldn't be happier starting my first class career.

Blackie

@blackie_37

Memory added on March 8, 2013

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