Onions to make ODI bow
The news that England are to rest Paul Collingwood and James Anderson for Saturday’s ODI comes as good news to Durham’s Graham Onions. The seamer has had a fantastic summer for England, debuting against the West Indies in May with figures of 5-38 and taking crucial wickets against Australia to help England regain the Ashes. Now the Woodworm sponsored bowler will hope to add to his already impressive stock by making his one day international debut at Lord’s on Saturday, replacing the aforementioned Anderson. Since he rapped the pads of Shane Watson on the second morning of the Edgbaston test Onions has been something of a cult hero with England fans, and his impressive summer was rewarded with a nomination for ICC Test Match Player of the year.
Onions is a rangy bowler who often surprises batsman with his pace, and with the scalps of players such as Ponting, Chanderpaul, Hussey and Clarke there is nothing yet to suggest his consistent performances in County Cricket cannot be replicated at international level. His recent inclusion in the ODI squad was intended as cover for Andrew Flintoff but with England leaving for South Africa on September 21st they have no option but to rest some of their star performers. What might seem to be a blow to England’s chances is a huge boost for Onions who, if picked, will seek to revitalise a stricken England and secure his own ODI place long-term.
It looks as if Onions could be the like for like replacement for Matthew Hoggard; both reliable and both wicket to wicket bowlers Onions will seek to prosper in the shorter format of the game, something that Hoggard was never able to do. If Onions does make the final 11 tomorrow morning then it will top off what has been a very successful week for him. Not only was he nominated for the ICC Test match player of the year he also secured himself a Central Contract, as well as a berth in England’s squad for the Champion’s Trophy. He would dearly love to take a few wickets to mark the occasion.
Whether or not Onions will be able to nail down a place in England’s one day side is yet to become clear, several faces have appeared in the side with many barely getting a chance to wield a bat in anger. Morgan, Patel, Mascarenhas and Denly are but a few names that the England set-up have, or are still, experimented with. Saturday could be Onions’ chance, he will look to grab it with both hands to possibly get England back into the series. His partnership of 47 with Jimmy Anderson at Edgbaston during the Ashes suggest Onions isn’t the worst batsman in the world either, and he will look to carve a few lusty blows with his Worm if Australia rattle through England’s top order again. It will be with the ball though that Onions makes his impact, and he will be hoping his bowling spell reduces the Aussie batsman to tears.