Former England and veteran Lancashire fast bowler Graham Onions has on Friday (September 4) announced retirement from all forms of professional cricket to put an end to a 17-year old career.
The 37-year-old was forced to take a decision on his professional playing career after being advised to stop playing on medical grounds after following a recent back injury.
Onions has not made a first-class appearance this summer after suffering back injury prior to the opening Bob Willis Trophy fixture of the season against Leicestershire.
The seamer represented England in 9 Tests and 4 One Day Internationals between 2009-2012, picking up 32 wickets and 4 scalps in ODIs. He also helped England to beat Australia in the Ashes 2009.
However, Onions – who joined Lancashire from Durham in 2018, enjoyed a long and fulfilling career in first-class cricket, as he played 192 first-class matches since his debut in 2004, finishing with 723 wickets at an average of 25.70 with 31 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket hauls in his county career.
Onions announced the retirement on Twitter: “This is not the way I wanted to bow out of the game, but I have to listen to the medical staff and have come to terms with the fact I am protecting my health and wellbeing in future years. I gave absolutely everything I could and finish with no regrets.”
He continued, “From being part of an Ashes-winning England team to becoming Durham's leading first-class wicket-taker, I have achieved more than I could have dreamed of when I first started out and feel lucky to have had the privilege of being a first-class cricketer for so many years.
I will be forever grateful to Dave Roberts, Sam Byrne, Tom Webster and the rest of Lancashire's medical team for their help, support and professionalism over the last two-and-a-half seasons since I joined. They have been truly fantastic with me and I cannot thank them enough.”
Onions concluded, “Glen Chapple, Paul Allott and the rest of the Lancashire staff and players have also made me feel truly welcome from the first moment I joined and I have loved every moment of being in the home changing room at Emirates Old Trafford.”
