Onions can fill Anderson void in England’s third West Indies Test

With a congested summer fixture list to come, James Anderson has been somewhat controversially omitted from England’s squad for their third Test against West Indies, which they are priced 6/5 to win.

Anderson, who is fully fit, has declared his confusion at the situation, outlining a desire to compete in every England international he possibly can do at 29 years old.

The England selectors have taken the decision to rest him however, and that could contribute to some punters avoiding those 6/5 odds, bearing in mind Anderson’s immense international pedigree.

He has racked up 267 Test wickets throughout his England career, which truly underlines his importance to the side, particularly in the long form of the game.

In Graham Onions however, England would appear to have a more than capable replacement.

Onions is expected to get the nod to stand in for Anderson, and he will be hopeful of replicating his tremendous seasonal county form when claiming his ninth Test cap.

The 29-year-old has suffered from persistent back troubles recently, but now appears ready to end a two-and-a-half-year exile from international Test cricket, amidst his sparkling form for Durham.

A swing bowler in a similar mould to Anderson, Onions has amassed 34 wickets this term, at a highly impressive average of 12.61.

That form has not gone unnoticed by England’s selectors, and Onions looks set to take a spot in the side, ahead of the exciting Steven Finn.

Just 23, Finn will have plenty of opportunities to perform for his country in future, though many felt he was ready for Test cricket this summer, after taking 22 wickets for Middlesex at an average only slightly over 20.

It seems that Onions will be chosen as a like-for-like replacement for Anderson however, and punters should retain a degree of confidence in England, with their side featuring a player in such a rich vein of county form.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.