Onions seeks to reprise 2009 run

Graham Onions, who has replaced Tim Bresnan in the England squad for the series against Pakistan in the UAE, is hoping to stage a great comeback. He is likely to play in England's second warm-up match against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) XI at the International Cricket Council Global Cricket Academy Oval ground starting today. Onions has been out of action since 2010 following a stress fracture to his back. "It is a special feeling when you play for England. It is the best feeling I have ever had. To have had that taken away was very disappointing and it was the toughest time of my career," said Onions, who played his last Test match in January 2010 in South Africa. Onions has so far played in only eight Test matches but has taken 28 wickets. "I want to try and prove a point to Andy Flower [coach] and Andrew Strauss [captain] that I'm good enough to be there and stay." Top priority Onions wants to regain his form during the year 2009. "Now that I'm up for selection it's important for me to come in and get back my 2009 form. That [performance] seems a long time ago. I am here now and I want to make a difference," he added. Onions believes that his bowling style could be effective here. "I feel that with my skiddy type of bowling I'd do quite well out here," said the 29-year-old, who plays for Durham in English county cricket. Onions' last tour with England was to Bangladesh in 2009, when it was diagnosed that he was suffering from a badly strained back. He even had to undergo spinal surgery and returned to action only last April. "You're keeping your fingers crossed. You're doing all the training, hoping the surgeon has done a good job and kind of fixed my back together. If I get to play I've got a lot of people to thank. I have gone through the toughest time of my career," he said.