Onions confident of England chances

After picking up four wickets to help England's Performance Programme (EPP) side beat an MRF XI yesterday, Graham Onions, the Durham fast bowler, is confident he can push for a spot in the senior Test side in the next 12 months.

Onions, who only played 11 Championship games last summer, was the pick of the attack on Friday as he claimed 4 for 41 in EPP's 111-run win and is convinced his time spent with the development squad in India can help him earn higher honours.

"I actually feel that I'm closer than I've ever been and although it sounds daft, I also thought I was very close last year, when I went to Bangladesh with England A and I had a very good winter," Onions told the Northern Echo. "I came into the English season and picked up some good wickets and got 8 for 101 against Warwickshire, which obviously stood me in good stead.

"But then unfortunately I got a call from the selectors saying they were going to go with Ryan Sidebottom, which was a bit of a blow. In the end though, you think well at least I'm getting a call. Now, from doing a lot of hard work I like to think I've improved and that I'm a step ahead from where I was last year."

Onions first caught the selectors' eyes in 2006, earning himself a call-up to England's provisional 30-man squad for the Champions Trophy. He was later called up as a replacement to Darren Gough in September 2006 for the final three one-dayers against Pakistan, but has yet to make his debut.