Graham Onions could not have wished for a better start to his England career but, in an exclusive interview, the Durham fast bowler stresses that is all it was. Chief sports writer Luke Edwards reports
IF every journey starts with a single step, the one which launched Graham Onions’ international career with England would be better described as a leap.
Having risen slowly through the ranks at Durham, Onions was propelled to stardom in his international appearance, producing a blistering display of fast bowling to take five wickets in the first innings and 7-102 in the match as the West Indies were blown away at Lord’s.
It was a sensational way to introduce yourself to the national side and Onions was suddenly the centre of attention as the exciting prospect in a new-look bowling attack at the start of an Ashes summer.
Onions has spent the majority of his first-class career living and learning in the shadow of Durham’s talismanic Steve Harmison. Yet he is now the bowler who is most likely to keep his county colleague and friend out of the England side.
Given the 26-year-old could not even hold down a place in the Durham team at the end of last year’s Championship- winning campaign, it has been remarkable transformation.
Tellingly, though, for a young man who has never questioned his own ability, it has not been a completely unexpected one following a winter of hard work and self-analysis.
"It has been a whirlwind really," said Onions, who is back on county duty with Durham as they travel to Lancashire for a vital Twenty20 Cup game tonight.
"It has been phenomenal, honestly, difficult to put into words. Everything that I dreamed about as a cricketer came true at Lord’s, but I don’t want that to be it. I can’t emphasise that enough, it was a fantastic start but that is all it was, a start.
"I hope there is plenty more to be proud of as an international cricketer. I’m not getting carried away with what has happened because it’s just a couple of games.
"I didn’t expect this to happen, but I knew I was going to have a good season. I had put in a lot of work over the winter, came back and had a good pre-season. I was strong and in good shape and I felt confident this would be a big year for me.
"When you have that confidence in your body, it helps. I had a really good start to the season last year, but unfortunately picked up a foot injury and that ruined it for me.
"This year I started well again. I was given the opportunity with England and things went unbelievably well for me. It’s been an incredible month or so but there is plenty more to come, hopefully.
"The Ashes are coming up and of course I want to be selected for that, but if I’m not, I’ve got a big season with Durham to think about as well."
