Android : Intent not working in android menu bar

I am creating an app where there is a button on the action bar called About. It should link to an activity by the same name through intent method. But its not working.

public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
    MenuInflater inflater = getMenuInflater();
    inflater.inflate(R.menu.main_activity_actions, menu);
    return true;
}

public boolean onOptionItemSelected(MenuItem item){

    switch(item.getItemId()){

    case R.id.About:
        Intent i = new Intent(this, About.class);
        startActivity(i);
        return true;

    default:    
    return super.onOptionsItemSelected(item);
            }


 }

this is the java code, declaring the action to do when the user clicks on action bar button.

The XML code that creates the button is as follows:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<menu xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" >


<item android:id="@+id/About" android:orderInCategory="100"
    android:showAsAction="always"
    android:title="About"/>



</menu>

The meny button is being created and it is clickable, but no event is taking place.