Somerset's Blackwell is eager to prove his detractors wrong

Dismissed by some as not being classy enough for Test cricket, he won his passage to India when Ashley Giles failed to recover from hip surgery.

Blackwell said: "I can show the England management that I am more of a rounded player than perhaps they think I am.

"I have changed and progressed as a cricketer and also as a person."

Blackwell will land in Mumbai (Bombay) with the rest of the England squad on Monday and is competing with veteran Shaun Udal and rookie Monty Panesar for a spot in the first Test in Nagpur on 1 March.

"It's still a burning ambition of mine to play Test cricket," said Blackwell. "My consistency of performance playing for Somerset has been a key factor."

Economy rate should come into it, and I go at under three an over Ian Blackwell

The 27-year-old has played in 28 one-day internationals, but knows he is not a certain starter for the Tests.

"I think Shaun will start because he did in Pakistan, and it will be up to me and Monty to try and take his place," he said.

"Just being out there is a great opportunity to show Duncan Fletcher that I'm not just a one-day player."

Blackwell took 28 first-class wickets at more than 52 apiece last season, although the Somerset captain says the statistics do not tell the full story.