Winter rest the reason for Onions’ outstanding form, says Harmison
Jun 10 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal
GRAHAM Onions owes his transformation from reserve at Durham to Test star to staying away from cricket for six months, says Stephen Harmison.
The fast bowler ended last season unable to get a game for the Championship-chasing Riversiders but is now the country’s leading wicket-taker and an England international.
Having worn the Three Lions 121 times, Harmison knows all about the pressures of international cricket and the 12 months-a-year workload which accompanies it. And he believes Onions was better off out of it this winter.
While Harmison was enduring frustrating tours of India and the West Indies, Onions was at home in Gateshead working on his fitness after being overlooked by England Lions, the country’s reserves. “I think six months off have done him the world of good,” said Harmison. “It’s no surprise to me that the two bowlers who’ve bowled well at the start of the season (Onions and Tim Bresnan) and got picked for England had nothing to do with England for six months. For me, that is how Graham has got better as a bowler.
“He’s had time off, wanted to play the game and he’s on a roll.
“Once you get on a roll in this game with the amount of cricket you play one day after another, it’s very difficult to get out of it.”
Many a promising bowler has been called up by England only to have his technique, and with it his confidence, dismantled by well-meaning coaches. But Harmison explained that is just one of the ways representing England can sometimes do more harm than good. “It’s the whole package, it’s difficult to explain,” he said. “There’s the tinkering with actions, people getting the recognition and thinking ahead of themselves, the tiredness, being away from home, being in a cricketing environment 10 months of the year, it’s a whole host of things. The best thing Graham has had in the last six months is his feet up, not playing any cricket. He’s worked hard on his physical condition and he’s going to reap the rewards. He’s going to be in and around the Ashes team, no doubt about that.
“He’s worked out the future’s there for him, he just needs to grab it and keep on this road.” With 35 wickets at 16.22 – including 10 in two Tests – Onions is comfortably the country’s most potent bowler but his talent has always been well known at the Riverside.
