England seamer Graham Onions has revealed that he thought he might never play cricket again.

Onions, 29, returned to the England team yesterday and took three wickets as the third test finally got underway following two days of rain.

Speaking afterwards, Onions admitted that when his serious back injury was at its worst he felt he would never take to the field again: "A couple of years ago, I genuinely didn't think I was going to play cricket again."

He added: "When I put that shirt on and my cap on, it added to the nerves a little bit. I was pretty nervous. But it's good nerves, and I really, really enjoyed it. It's like a second debut really."

Onions has been given his chance to impress the England selectors alongside fellow paceman Steven Finn as James Anderson and Stuart Broad are rested.