Onions replaces Flintoff for Champions Trophy

Graham Onions has been named as Andrew Flintoff's replacement for the Champions Trophy in South Africa and has also been added to the current one-day squad facing Australia.

Stuart Broad was ruled out of the second ODI at Lord's on Sunday due to a neck injury and now England have cover in the bowling department, although they were not short of options in the original party.

England needed to name a replacement for the Champions Trophy after Flintoff underwent knee surgery following the Ashes series, which has ruled the allrounder out for at least six months. Onions, who has yet to make his ODI debut, has been approved by the ICC technical committee for the tournament that runs from September 22 to October 5.

Onions' first England call-up back in 2006 came as part of the one-day squad for the Pakistan series but he didn't make the team. He made his Test debut in May this year against West Indies, at Lord's, when he took 5 for 38 in the first innings and played three Tests in the Ashes series.

His domestic one-day record is not as impressive as his first-class career and he has taken 54 wickets from 48 games at 31.24 with an economy rate of 5.20. This season he only played one match in the Friends Provident Trophy and hasn't made any Pro40 appearances due to international commitments and Durham's policy of blooding youngsters.

Earlier this week Onions was nominated in two categories for the ICC annual awards and is in the running for emerging player of the year and cricketer of the year. His call-up to the England squad means he won't be available for the Championship run-in as Durham aim to retain their title against Nottinghamshire this week.