Onions enjoys sweet smell of success

Graham Onions celebrated being called up into England's squad for next week's first Test against the West Indies by taking six wickets for county champions Durham against Somerset on Wednesday.

A day that began with the 26-year-old uncapped fast bowler being woken up by a telephone call from England national selector Geoff Miller saw him later basking in figures of six for 31 as Somerset were skittled out for 69.

Former Australia opener Justin Langer, Somerset's captain, scored over half the hosts' first innings runs at Taunton with 35 not out.

Onions's haul meant he'd all but assured himself of a Test debut at Lord's when the first of a two-match series starts a week on Wednesday.

His performance was all the more creditable given that Durham, on a traditionally good batting pitch, had earlier piled up 543 with South African Dale Benkenstein weighing in with 181.

Somerset, made to follow-on, were 82 for one at stumps with ex-England batsman Marcus Trescothick, one of Onions's first innings victims, 32 not out.

"You don't mind waking up to be told you are in the England squad," Onions told Sky Sports after the second day's play.

"From there on, it just got better."

While Onions was revelling in his England call, it was a different story for fellow Durham quick Stephen Harmison.

Dropped during England's tour of the Caribbean, the 61-times capped Harmison was omitted from Wednesday's Test squad but, as Onions explained, he still took time out to offer some words of encouragement to his younger colleague.

"Steve Harmison said you are going to have people watching you but just do the same things as you did last week (when Onions took five for 56 against Yorkshire, including the wicker of ex-England captain Michael Vaughan)."

Onions added: "I tried that and I was lucky. I got a good wicket early, Marcus Trescothick, and that gave me a bit of encouragement." LONDON, Thursday, AFP,