Onions' perfect wake-up call

For Graham Onions it was one of those moments when he didn't mind being woken up by a phone call. Geoff Miller, the national selector, was on the other end of the line and Onions was soon wide-awake to the news that he was in England's squad to face West Indies next week.

"It's absolutely brilliant. I got a phone call at 7.30 this morning from Mr Miller," an ecstatic Onions told Cricinfo. "It was a great feeling to wake up and get that call."

For all his personal joy, it was a morning of contrasting emotions for Durham's quick bowlers. In another room of the team hotel in Taunton, where they are based while playing Somerset in the County Championship, Onions' team-mate Steve Harmison also received news from Miller. For him, however, it was a much more galling experience as his international career was again put on hold.

Onions was left in the difficult position of feeling understandable disappointment for his team-mate, who he said offers him regular advice, but realising that Harmison's omission effectively created him his chance.

"Steve has been great. He's been through some really good times and through some tough times," he said. "He's a great person to have in the team and to bowl alongside. I think he will be a loss to England, but it gives me the opportunity to push my name forward and hopefully I will get the nod in the first Test. I've not really spoken to Steve much this morning, but I'm sure he will give a little more help and wish me all the best."

Onions' call-up marks quite a turnaround for someone who had an injury-hit 2008 as Durham claimed their maiden Championship title. He played just five matches in the campaign and even when he was fit again struggled to get back among the team's strong pace pack. "When I got injured, I couldn't get back in the team so that shows how strong the Durham squad is," he said. "I'm just lucky at the moment that I've been in the team and done quite while."

For a player in early season it's all about making sure you perform when the right people are watching. Onions picked his moment perfectly when he took 5 for 56 against Yorkshire - including the wicket of Michael Vaughan - last week in front of James Whitaker, one of Miller's co-selectors, and he said it was a relief to realise he was still firmly in the selectors' thoughts.

"It was nice to think I was still in their minds even though I wasn't involved in the winter squads or last summer," Onions said. "When you aren't involved you always think that maybe your chance has gone, but I knew I'd bowled well last week in front of James Whitaker and I was in the right frame of mind after good preparation for the summer."

Onions was first picked by England in 2006 when he was named in the one-day squad that was taking on Pakistan. He admits at the time to being extremely raw, but feels he is now much better equipped to deal with the demands of international cricket.

"When I first got called into the one-day squad I think I was renowned as someone a little bit hot-headed who could only bowl quick," he said. "The good thing is I've not lost any of that pace, which is great, but I've become a lot more controlled and know what I'm doing with the ball.

"I can bowl a bouncer or a yorker whenever I want and I feel my skills have improved ten times and on the mental side I'm much better. When things get tough I can go to different plans. It's a hugely exciting time for me now and I just can't wait to get going."