England Fast Bowler Graham Onions Forced To Retire Due To Back Injury

England fast bowler Graham Onions was forced into retirement due to back injury. Onions, 37, had suffered the setback at the beginning of the Bob Willis Trophy and after taking medical advice he decided to hang up his boots. He made his debut for England in 2009 and played till 2012.

During this time Onions featured in nine Tests and four ODIs. He had picked up 32 wickets in the longest format of the game and four scalps in ODIs. However, he endured a long and fulfilling career in First Class cricket, where he featured in 192 matches. Onions had took to twitter to share his retirement note.

“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,” Onions said.

“I gave absolutely everything I could and finish with no regrets. 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.

“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.”

Onions retired with more than 874 wickets across all formats in career spanning 16 years. He had shown that he was best fit for Test format but also featured in a few ODI matches.

He had picked up 723 wickets in his successful first-class career.