England seamer Graham Onions forced into retirement by back injury

Graham Onions, the Lancashire and former England fast bowler, has announced his retirement from the game. Onions, 37, suffered a back injury ahead of the start of this year's Bob Willis Trophy and has taken medical advice to end his professional playing career.

Onions played nine Tests between 2009 and 2012, taking 32 wickets at 29.90, and would likely have featured more if not for injuries. He claimed a five-wicket haul on debut against West Indies to get on the Lord's honours board, and featured in three out of five Tests as England reclaimed the Ashes in 2009.

Although not renowned for his ability with the bat, he was twice the hero on England's 2009-10 tour of South Africa, seeing his side to draws at Centurion and Cape Town nine wickets down - Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel both denied by the No. 11 in their final overs.

A naggingly accurate fast-medium seamer who learned his trade on the pitches of Chester-le-Street, Onions was part of the Durham side that won three Championships in six seasons and became their leading wicket-taker in first-class cricket - with 527 at 25.58 - before leaving for Lancashire in 2017. He took a further 104 first-class wickets at 20.73 with his new club.

Onions retires having reaped 874 wickets across all formats in a 16-year career. Although red-ball bowling was his strength, he also played four ODIs for England, and helped Durham lift their first major trophy with victory in the final of the 2007 Friends Provident Trophy at Lord's.

"This is not the way I wanted to bow out of the game, but I have to listen to the medical staff and have come to terms with the fact I am protecting my health and wellbeing in future years," Onions said.

"I gave absolutely everything I could and finish with no regrets. From being part of an Ashes-winning England team to becoming Durham's leading first-class wicket-taker, I have achieved more than I could have dreamed of when I first started out and feel lucky to have had the privilege of being a first-class cricketer for so many years.

"I will be forever grateful to Dave Roberts, Sam Byrne, Tom Webster and the rest of Lancashire's medical team for their help, support and professionalism over the last two-and-a-half seasons since I joined. They have been truly fantastic with me and I cannot thank them enough.

"Glen Chapple, Paul Allott and the rest of the Lancashire staff and players have also made me feel truly welcome from the first moment I joined and I have loved every moment of being in the home changing room at Emirates Old Trafford."

pic.twitter.com/zzdT33hWew

— Graham Onions (@BunnyOnions) September 4, 2020

As part of the contract extension he signed in 2019, Onions has been working in a coaching capacity with the age-group and academy sides at Emirates Old Trafford and will continue in that role until the end of the season.

Lancashire's director of cricket, Paul Allott, said: "It's a sad day when anyone has to retire from professional sport and even more so when it is effectively taken out of their control. As we have seen in his performances over the last few years, Graham's talent and drive is still there but unfortunately he has to take this decision on the advice of the medical staff.

"I would like to congratulate him on not only what he has achieved at Lancashire, but also across his 16-year career in professional cricket. He has been the consummate professional and a shining example to young bowlers of what you can achieve when you match talent with the dedication and desire he has displayed throughout his career.

"As far as skilled fast bowlers in county cricket, they do not come much better than 'Bunny' and were it not for some injuries at key times at his peak, he certainly would have played more for England.

"Everyone at Lancashire Cricket and Emirates Old Trafford wish him all the very best for the future and thank him for his considerable and invaluable contributions to the club."