Uncertainty over this county summer is hurting players, says Graham Onions

Lancashire's veteran seamer signed a new contract at Old Trafford in November, but he admits the coronavirus outbreak may mean he doesn't bowl a ball in 2020

• Onions adds third season to Lancashire stay
• How county plans have been affected by COVID-19

Veteran seamer Graham Onions has spoken of his concern over the upcoming county summer.

The 37-year-old penned a fresh one-year deal with Lancashire towards the end of 2019, but the club's fixtures remain in doubt as organisers face the challenge of proceeding with the season in light of government recommendations regarding COVID-19.

With the ECB meeting on Friday to discuss potential contingency plans amid reports that County Championship fixtures may be the first to go in any shortened season, Onions admitted that the lack of concrete news is affecting players as they look to build up to the new campaign.

"The way that they're going to have to look at it now is to try and get the white-ball cricket in. Maybe the red-ball staff, like myself, are potentially not going to bowl all season," Onions told Sky Sports.

"From a revenue position, it makes sense. I'm a traditionalist, and I prefer the red-ball cricket, but really from a financial point of view the white-ball cricket is going to have to probably take over. 

"Whether or not that [means] playing behind closed doors [I don't know], but playing every game on Sky could be a good way to go about it.

"The uncertainty really is hurting us, because we just want to know what's going on."

Onions collected 45 wickets at 19.57 during Lancashire's Division Two title run in 2019, but his county is one of 17 that has cancelled or cut short overseas training camps ahead of the scheduled start to the summer.

Lancashire are due to welcome Kent to Old Trafford to open the season on April 12 before launching into limited-overs duty in the T20 Blast on May 29.

The bowler's comments echo those of former county captain Mike Atherton, who insisted any curtailed season must prioritise white-ball games in order to avoid a financial crisis as counties struggle with cash flow and broadcasters look to fill their schedules.

Middlesex boss Angus Fraser has also mooted the possibility of extending the season into October in order to fulfil fixtures, far beyond its originally scheduled close of September 25.