Onions has more to give to build on a stellar rise

Feb 25 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

His rise to stardom has been a rapid one, but in an exclusive interview Graham Onions explains why it has left him feeling unfulfilled. Chief Sports Writer Luke Edwards reports

“People think of me as being tough mentally, and it’s true. But I used to doubt myself. Professional sport is probably 20% ability and 80% mental strength.

“It is only in the last couple of years that I’ve come to terms with that. When I was younger I wasn’t as confident, I wasn’t as strong mentally.

“I’ve probably only just realised I’m a good bowler. I didn’t have that belief when I was 23 or 24 and you have to remember, this time last year, I didn’t even know if I’d start the season in Durham’s team.

“You have to put things into context. I’ve had the most exciting 12 months of my life, it’s been phenomenal really. This time last year all I wanted to do was make sure I was in the Durham side for the first game of the season.

“In the first four games I took 23 wickets and every time I bowled I seemed to pick up a wicket. It all went from there and I’ve come a long way since.”

In fact, rather than dwell on his disappointment, Onions intends to go stronger from adversity as he looks to become a key figure in the England set up. He said: “There have been times in my career where I’ve been really frustrated, let things get to me and my form has suffered. But I’ve learned from that.

“I’ve had good people around me at Durham. They told me it would make me stronger in the long run and it has. If I keep trying and keep working, better things will come eventually.

“Yeah, being dropped by England hurt, it wasn’t a nice experience. I was just thinking, ‘why me, what have I done wrong?’ Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss told me it was a really tough decision, but they have to make those decisions. It’s their job. It’s my job to make sure it doesn’t happen again. It has spurred me on. It has made me even more determined to succeed.

“I want to establish myself in the England team for the next three or four years. I’ve played a few Test matches, that’s it. I’m not content with that and I want my place in team back in Bangladesh.

“I just want to get out to Bangladesh now for a completely different sort of tour in completely different conditions and prove myself over there.”