"(I thought) I'm going to really dig in," he said. "I spent a lot of time in the gym trying to get fit and strong and came back this year and I feel a different person, I feel fit and strong, I feel good about myself."

Onions's flurry of success came after an excellent spell by Graeme Swann, who has become England's first choice spinner, ahead of Monty Panesar, since a confident test debut in November when he took two Indian wickets in his maiden over.

He then took five wickets twice in tests in the Caribbean in February and on Thursday took three, including the prized wicket of Shivnarine Chanderpaul after dismissing Devon Smith with the previous ball.

Earlier in the day he had notched his first test fifty. "Graeme set the tone in the morning with the bat," said Onions.

"I'm going to come back tomorrow all guns blazing, I think there is a very good game of cricket to win tomorrow."