Onions is a complete novice at one-day international level

Durham paceman Graham Onions has replaced the injured Andrew Flintoff in the England squad for the Champions Trophy in South Africa.

Onions, who has yet to play a one-day international, has also been called into the squad for the current NatWest Series against Australia.

He will join the squad ahead of the third ODI on Wednesday.

Flintoff will miss the Champions Trophy, which runs from 22 September to 5 October, because of a knee injury.

The 31-year-old all-rounder suffered a deep vein thrombosis in his right calf following knee surgery at the end of the Ashes and is expected to be sidelined for a minimum of six months.

606: DEBATE They're pretty big boots to try and fill - do you think Onions is the right man to turn to, or should England have gone down a different route? JS

Onions's promotion is the latest chapter in a fine season for the bowler, who only made his Test debut in May, against the West Indies at Lord's.

He took 5-38, including a dramatic spell of four wickets in seven balls, and went on to play in three of the five Ashes Tests, although he was left out as Flintoff returned for last month's Oval finale, which saw England win by 197 runs to claim the series 2-1.

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