Graham Onions has backed John Hastings to make a big impact in England – particularly in limited-overs cricket.
Durham were eliminated at the quarter-final stage of last season’s T20 competition and failed to progress from the group stage in the 40 over format. The club are now making steps to try and improve their fortunes in limited-overs cricket and Australian all rounder Hastings will play for the county after his Indian Premier League spell with Chennai Super Kings comes to an end.
Hastings is due to arrive in England during late May or early June, which means the 28 year old misses out on the squad’s trip to Abu Dhabi for the first pre-season match against the MCC.
Fellow seam bowler Graham Onions has flown out with the rest of the squad to take part in the game, and he is looking forward to going into battle with Hastings this season.
“It’s exciting for me” Onions told durhamccc.co.uk “I don’t think he (Hastings) has played a great deal of first class cricket but obviously it’ll be nice to have somebody at the other end that’s got that bit of extra experience being in and around the Australian side.
“It’ll be interesting to learn a little bit from him as well”
Onions believes Hastings, who enjoyed a profitable season in the Australian Big Bash competition, will be an asset to Durham in limited-overs cricket. “I’ve heard that he’s got a lot of good skills with the white ball, he bowls good slower balls and good yorkers which is great for us.
“I still think there is a massive area in our one-day cricket that we can improve on and that’s with finishing innings, and I believe he can come in and do a good job for us.”
Before the one-day competitions begin in Mid-May, Durham have four LV=County Championship matches and three pre-season fixtures, starting with a floodlight game against the MCC. “They’ve picked a very good side, as they generally do” explained Onions.
“But equally, our team is very good as well, we’ve got a good blend of youth and experience and it’s going to be interesting to see where we are”