Graham Onions has been given the chance to continue the impressive start to his international career by being chosen for England’s opening Test against South Africa at Centurion.

The 27-year-old Durham seamer, a member of ISM’s management stable, was chosen ahead of Nottinghamshire left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom for England’s first Test since winning the Ashes at the Oval last August.

Onions was preferred to Sidebottom in a line-up which included six specialist batsmen -  Ian Bell was selected ahead of all-rounder Luke Wright – and took his place in an attack alongside Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann.

His selection makes partial amends for the disappointment of being overlooked for the final Test against Australia, when he made way for the returning Andrew Flintoff, having claimed 20 wickets in his first five Tests last summer.