Onions nearing full fitness
Paceman in upbeat mood ahead of new season
Last Updated: April 6, 2010 9:26pm
England seam bowler Graham Onions is "pretty confident" of being fit for the start of the new county season.
"I'm not in any pain at the moment, which is obviously really good."
Graham Onions Quotes of the week
Onions was ruled out of England's Test series in Bangladesh in March due to a back problem.
But the 27-year-old, who is centrally contracted, has been working hard to be ready for the start of his county Durham's defence of the LV= County Championship.
Durham, bidding for a title hat-trick, open their campaign at home to Essex on April 15-18.
"I can't thank the ECB enough for helping me out," Onions told Sky Sports News.
Grateful
"That is the advantage of being centrally contracted - you do get looked after.
"As a fast bowler you do get niggles. The ECB and all the medical staff have been brilliant, as have the people at Durham.
"They have constantly phoned me up to ask how I'm getting on. I've got some great medical staff around me.
"I'm not in any pain at the moment, which is obviously really good.
"I've just got to make sure I keep working hard - doing my weights, squats and core exercises and get myself fit for the start of the season."
Graham Onions
