Injury has kept Blackwell out of the England team since April in India

Australian Test stars Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer, plus South Africa captain Graeme Smith have all played for Somerset in recent seasons.

"They have papered over the cracks," Blackwell told BBC Radio Bristol.

"We've got very talented youngsters who would flourish in a more senior team but don't have seniority to look to."

Blackwell, still recovering from a shoulder problem that required surgery in May, is hoping to win a place in England's squad for the Champions Trophy next month.

The 28-year-old left-handed batsman and left-arm slow bowler, who joined Somerset in 2000 from his native Derbyshire, recalls the effect older players had on his career.

"When I first got into the Derbyshire team it was an unbelievable side with Dean Jones, John Morris, Chris Adams, Phil deFreitas, Dominic Cork and Devon Malcolm, and I was learning from the best in the country," he said.

"Our youngsters need to learn to bat all day and see how it's done by some serious cricketers."

Meanwhile, chief executive Richard Gould has told Somerset's website that the club are in a healthy position.

"We have had a good year financially, and now we can set ourselves even higher challenges for next year."