GRAHAM ONIONS was still having to pinch himself last night as it sank in that his five wickets on his Test debut had done most to put England in a dominant position at Lord’s.

The 26-year-old Durham seamer admits to plenty of ups and downs on a tortuous route to Test cricket, and the omens were not great for him when he followed a golden duck at number 11 with a long-hop dispatched for four in his first attempt with the ball.

Less than two hours later, though, he had five for 38 in the bag – and as his name was being etched on the famous HQ honours board, England were still busy reducing the West Indies to 39 for two second time round by stumps on day two of the npower series.

Onions rightly mentioned Graeme Swann – three for 16 and a maiden Test 50 – and Ravi Bopara (143) among others in dispatches, as he reflected on England’s 377 and the tourists’ 152 all out in reply.

But there was no denying his was the headline-grabbing performance, with four wickets in seven balls during one hectic passage of play as Chris Gayle’s team contrived to turn 99 for two into 128 for nine.

‘‘To get five wickets really is a dream come true,’’ said Onions. ‘‘I think today I can give myself a pat on the back – and I’m very proud of what I’ve done. It’s just a brilliant day for me, a massive confidence boost and one I’ll never forget.’’ Onions is grateful to the man-management of captain Andrew Strauss, and an inclusive atmosphere in the England team which meant – even when his day did not appear to be going to plan – he was able to regroup to such great effect.

‘‘The team ethic I walked into has been absolutely fantastic.

You could say there is a lot of love in the changing room,’’ he said.

‘‘I’m sitting here very pleased with myself to get five wickets. But I can’t stress how much the team dug deep.

‘‘There are people in that changing room – Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Strauss – that I never thought I’d have the chance to play with.

‘‘I have to pinch myself a few times. But today, I really do feel part of this team – and I’m sure I’ve got a lot to offer.’’ In such exalted company, Onions was not about to start shouting the odds before or even after his debut haul – but the confidence Strauss clearly has in him was a big help.

‘‘I don’t think you ever say, ‘come on skip, give me the ball – I’m going to get five wickets’,’’ he added.

‘‘But Andrew did say at the beginning of the Test, ‘don’t put yourself under too much pressure, just enjoy the moment’.

I’m certainly going to do that now.

‘‘I was just trying so hard to get the first wicket, thinking ’make sure I get one wicket’.

‘‘It’s always good to get one early and settle your nerves.

But then when I went for 15 in two overs, I was thinking ’it might be quite tough, this Test cricket’.

‘‘To get that first wicket, I was delighted. Then after that, it just happened so quickly - but I can remember every minute of it.’’ His bowling, after the important early incisions made by Stuart Broad and then Swann, blew the West Indies away.

But their coach John Dyson was simply full of admiration for opponents so recently beaten by his team in the Caribbean.

‘‘The start of our first innings was pretty good, and the boys were confident.

Then it just came out of nowhere,’’ he said.

‘‘I think the England bowlers bowled exceptionally well today – with pace and intent, and they hit the seam.

‘‘They also caught well, so it was a very impressive display by England. You can see that they are far more comfortable in their own conditions.’’ There have been several recent examples of teams appearing down and out at this venue, only to dig in and escape defeat as batting conditions ease.

Dyson appears aware already, though, that his team may need a little extra help to somehow follow suit over the next three days.

‘‘It’s just got to be an amazing fight – we’ll have to bat exceptionally well,’’ he admitted.

‘‘We’ve just got to hang in, and we might get a little bit of help from the weather.’’