Will Durham Duo Be England's Blessing?

But are either of them good enough to trouble the Aussies? After all, Onions has only taken Test wickets against a very ordinary West Indian side which didn't really want to be here in the first place, while Harmison has had more chances in international cricket than a five-year-old playing Guess Who?

In reality, only one of them is likely to be in the England team for the First Test at Cardiff - it still rankles that the Welsh are staging the First Test but anyway let's not get distracted by the misuse of taxpayer's money by the Welsh Assembly - and that will be Onions.

England's bowling unit is pretty much decided. Stuart Broad and James Anderson will both play, and Flintoff, presuming he can actually stay fit this time, will be the all-rounder. Onions deserves to keep his spot in the team given the superb way he has bowled for both England and Durham this season.

That leaves one place open and even that is not certain to be given to a bowler if Flintoff plays as a specialist bowler rather than an all-rounder who hasn't scored any runs for donkey's years.

Given his face and curly hair seem to fit into the current set up, Ryan Sidebottom will probably get the nod with his left arm swing bowling.

Harmison may get a call up into the England Lions - a fancy name for a B Team - to play Australia in a warm up game to keep him interested, but I don't think the 30-year-old, no matter how well he is bowling at the moment, will be considered for Cardiff.

That will suit Durham. Head Coach Geoff Cook may point to the strength in depth he has in terms with bowlers with both Liam Plunkett and Mark Davies currently out of the team because of injury, but he knows Harmison is the difference between a highly competitive county team and County champions for the second year running.

Durham travel to Warwickshire this week looking to make it three wins out of three but Onions and Harmison really will have their work cut out at Edgbaston.

The pitch is flat and docile and offers little for seam bowlers other than hardwork and sweat. If either can wickets in large numbers on this ground then the England selectors really will get excited.

However, while Onions and Harmison are winning all the rave reviews at the moment, others have made significant contributions to the team, not least Ian Blackwell.

The former Somerset man always looked like a good signing and not just for those who believe sportsmen do not necessarily have to look, erm, well athletic I suppose.

His runs, when they have come, have come when they are needed most and if Durham were a strong side last year they are an even stronger one with him in their midst of their batting line up.