Onions relishing Trophy test

England need to put a one-day series thrashing by Australia behind them and defeat at least two of in-form Sri Lanka, hosts South Africa and New Zealand, a team they have beaten only twice in their past 10 attempts to progress from Group B of the Champions Trophy. Not that Onions, who experienced victory on his one-day international debut against Australia last weekend, is intimidated by much.

"I used to be, definitely," Onions said. "Now not at all, I just think 'I've got the ball in my hand and I can get this guy out'. That's the bottom line. It's bowler versus batter."

He added: "A good example of that is when I bounced Ricky Ponting out recently. It is the first time in his career I believe he has been bounced out.

"People had told me 'whatever you do, don't bounce Ricky Ponting'. I just thought I would give it a go.

"I am in the early stages of my career and everything is happening for me. There will be tough times, of course there will, but I would like to think I have learned from the tough times in the past, so that when they do come along they will be slightly easier."

Onions, 27, has enjoyed a fine start to his international career, his 20 Test wickets in just five appearances enough to merit a shortlisting in the International Cricket Council's emerging player category at next week's awards dinner in Johannesburg.

His positivity has reaped rewards since making his England bow earlier this summer and, unlike some of his weary team-mates, he just does not want the matches to stop.

"If you feel good about yourself, you have a smile on your face, then you are going to be pretty positive," said Onions.

"I used to be a bit of a sulker and get down quite easily but now I reflect on the fact I love doing this. I am in South Africa with a great opportunity to improve English cricket."