Onions just missed out on the bowling honours' board at Edgbaston
Graham Onions said England's bowling resurgence on the second day of the third Ashes Test was down to patience.
The Durham fast bowler took 4-58, including two wickets with the first two deliveries of the day - as England dismissed the tourists for 263.
The performance marked a significant improvement from Thursday's display.
"We were probably impatient on Thursday, but today we showed patience, put the ball in the right areas and we were rewarded," said Onions.
"As a team, we came off the field yesterday thinking we could have bowled a little bit better.
"It was important we got off to a good start today - and it helps when you get two wickets with two balls."
Onions revealed he was surprised to be handed the 30-over old ball by Andrew Strauss for the first over of Friday's morning session.
And he repaid his captain's faith when he had overnight batsman Shane Watson trapped lbw for 62 before bowling former county captain Michael Hussey for a golden duck with the very next delivery.
"I like to pride myself on getting the first ball on the money, I've got a great chance of getting a wicket," said the 26-year-old.
"We try to get the ball to swing back into Mike for an lbw shout and there is always a chance of getting him out caught behind as well.
"The key for me with that delivery was to make him play."
Onions enjoyed further success when Ricky Ponting edged a short delivery attempting a pull shot into Matt Prior's gloves for 38.
The captain had become Australia's highest Test ever run scorer - and the third highest in the history of the game - with a clip off his pads for three during the morning session.
"I got Ponting out in the England Lions game, but that wasn't international cricket, so today was very special," added Onions. "He is the best player in the world."
Ponting admitted reaching the milestone was a "bittersweet" feeling after Australia lost nine wickets for just 137 runs.
"It's a great achievement but I've never been statistically minded," said the 34-year-old. Once I finish my career I guess I will pay more attention to the things I have achieved in the game.
"But it would have been nice to get a big score when the team needed it today."
However, Ponting is optimistic his bowlers can emulate England's marked improvement with the ball on Saturday, despite the pessimistic weather forecasts for the weekend.
"The ball didn't do anything last night but it did a lot today, I don't know why that is," he said. "It probably started swinging from the 35-over mark.
"We're at that stage with our ball at the moment. Hopefully we can keep working on it and get a little cloud cover tomorrow and have a similar morning as England did today."
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?