Onions: ‘Staying with Lancashire was a no-brainer’
GRAHAM Onions says it is a ‘no-brainer’ to sign a new deal with Lancashire.
The former England seamer has put pen to paper on a one-year contract at Emirates Old Trafford, which will also see him continue to work with the Academy and age-group sides in a coaching role.
The right-arm medium-fast bowler has been a hit since joining from Durham, making 23 first-class appearances for the Red Rose, taking 104 wickets at 20.73, with a best of 6-55 against Nottinghamshire last year.
Onions, 37, finished as the fourthhighest wicket-taker in last season’s Specsavers County Championship, helping Lancashire win Division Two and secure promotion back to the top flight.
Onions said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the club so far and it was a no-brainer to sign a new contract.
“Emirates Old Trafford is a great place to play cricket and I am looking forward to playing alongside, and working with, some of the best bowlers in the country.
“I feel as fit as I ever have and owe a lot to the strength and conditioning team at the club for their hard work and expert advice.
“I will continue to work with the upand-coming bowlers here, something I have loved doing over the last two years. There are some real talents coming through the system and I hope I can positively influence their careers.
“It is an exciting time to be a part of Lancashire Cricket and I am delighted to be here for at least another season.”
As well as his wickets on the field, director of cricket Paul Allott believes Onions can be key in helping to bring through Lancashire’s future pace bowlers.
He said: “Graham has performed extremely well since joining the club two years ago. He is exceptionally skilled and has substantial knowledge to pass on to our younger bowlers.
“He has repeatedly proven himself as a high-class Division One bowler and we are delighted to keep him for at least another season. He is the ultimate professional both on and off the field and we’re delighted to have given him further coaching opportunities with both the Lancashire academy and agegroup sides, which is something that I know he’s enjoyed doing over the last couple of years.” Meanwhile, England Under-19 captain George Balderson is one of seven young players to sign new contracts with Lancashire.
All products of the club’s age group system, Balderson, George Burrows, Tom Hartley, George Lavelle and
Paul Allott on Graham Onions
Jack Morley have all been awarded extended deals.
Opening batsman Owais Shah and seam bowler Ed Moulton have also signed their first professional contracts with the club.
Allott added:“We have a proud tradition of our own homegrown talent featuring in the first team and that has been reinforced with the successes of players such as Matt Parkinson, Saqib Mahmood, Rob Jones and Josh Bohannon this summer.
“Some of the players have had exposure to the professional environment already and we are looking for them to further stake a claim for first XI places, particularly with an increased opportunity to feature in next season’s Royal London One-Day Cup.”