South Africa v England: Graham Onions on blocking out Morne Morkel

It can't be too often that a tailender pleads to face Morne Morkel.

But that's exactly what Graham Onions did in January 2010 during England's third Test against South Africa, a side Alastair Cook's men are preparing to meet in a four-Test series this winter, starting on Boxing Day.

Onions strode to the crease with his team nine-down in Cape Town but proceeded to block out 11 Morkel deliveries to help the tourists steal a draw, just a couple of weeks after frustrating Makhaya Ntini to earn England a stalemate in the first Test at Centurion.

The Durham player, sounding quite like Blackadder, insists his battle with the South Africa paceman was all part of a cunning plan, with batting partner, Graeme Swann, playing the role of Baldrick.

"In Cape Town, I walked out there said to Swanny [Swann]: 'Whatever we do, I'm not facing Dale Steyn!'" Onions told Sky Sports, while reflecting on a series that ended 1-1.

"He was my hero and I knew he'd pitch the ball up and probably get me out, so I told Swanny that I was more than happy to face Morkel and he said: 'That's the best news I've ever heard, as Morkel will get me out!'

"I'd much rather face somebody who pitches the ball shorter - people say: 'They can hit you on the head' but I find that easier to deal with than a bowler looking for my edge - while I'd had decent preparation facing a bit of short-pitched bowling from the South African net bowlers anyway.

"Swanny and I had quite a clear strategy and I felt pretty switched on. Plus, as he is a great character and a big Newcastle fan, he helped me along.

"It was actually a lot of fun - though that's easy to say once you've seen the bowlers off and not got out - and people still love to talk to me about it."

At 33, Onions' England days are probably behind him, though the Gateshead-born seamer - who has figured in nine Tests and four ODIs for his country - showed there is plenty left in the tank by taking 65 Championship wickets for Durham last term.

Another Chester-le-Street favourite will turn out for Cook's team in South Africa, however, with all-rounder Ben Stokes recovering from a shoulder injury he picked up while fielding against Pakistan in the UAE to take his place on the tour.

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Stokes showed very few signs of rust while cracking 158 from 131 deliveries in England's warm-up tussle against a South Africa Invitational XI in Potchefstroom and Onions insists his county colleague will only get better.

"His [Stokes] injury looked a lot worse than it has actually turned out to be and now he's done his weights and started hitting balls again he is raring to go," Onions said of Stokes, whose 2015 summer included seizing 6-36 at Trent Bridge as England regained The Ashes and the fastest Test ton at Lord's, from 85 balls, against New Zealand.

"I think England are really getting the best out of him now - and will continue to do so - by batting him in the top six, looking to him for match-winning spells with the ball, and generally giving him more responsibility.

"Stokesy is a competitor, the sort of guy who wears his heart on his sleeve and someone who other players want to play with; he's a multi-dimensional cricketer who makes England stronger.

“There is a lot more to come from his bowling as he can deliver the ball at speed and get both swing both in and away so in time I’d like to see him as first-change bowler.”

"He fancies himself as a decent footballer, too, so the only thing going against him is his hairline - he might need one of those squirrels Michael Vaughan managed to get his hands on!"

Stokes, rather poetically, is joined in the squad by Chris Woakes, with the Warwickshire seamer handed a recall for the series with the Proteas after Mark Wood's ankle injury prevented him from travelling.

Onions reckons Woakes' pitch-up style of bowling may give him the nod over fellow quicks Mark Footitt, Chris Jordan and the returning-to-fitness Steve Finn in the fight for the final spot in a four-pronged pace cabal.

The veteran has also championed the return of Middlesex batsman Nick Compton - two and a half years after the last of his nine Test appearances - but is shocked the right-hander's opportunity has come at the expense of Ian Bell, who stroked 313 runs at 44.71 against South Africa in 2009-10.

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"I think Woakes is a really good shout," said Onions. People in South Africa can get carried away with bowling short and trying to power it through to the keeper at a good height.

"That may look pretty and you might not go for many runs but bowling a fuller length, hunting edges and being willing to risk going for boundaries in order to be rewarded with wickets is your best bet.

"Woakes, Stuart Broad and James Anderson are three English-style seamers that will do that."

Onions added: "Bell has had a really tough time of it over the last year but it's very disappointing that he's not been selected.

"I think he is still one of England's best players and would probably have done as good a job or better than some of the guys that have been picked.

"That said, I rate Nick [Compton] a lot; he is a very stubborn character - that's meant as a compliment - who understands his technique extremely well and with his South African background he will know what to do to get runs."

Watch England's four-Test series in South Africa live on Sky Sports, starting with the opening game, in Durban, from 7.30am on Boxing Day.

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