 After a successful start to the 2009 cricket season, Onions was selected to face the West Indies in Test cricket, and following success in the series, was retained for the 2009 Ashes series.In April 2010 Wisden Cricketers' Almanack named him as one of its five cricketers of the year for 2009.A back injury in March 2010 prevented Onions from playing cricket until 2011.