Five things you didn't know about England's Mason Crane ahead of his Ashes debut

Sport360 staff 20:40 02/01/2018
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  • Hampshire’s 20-year-old leg-spinner Mason Crane is expected to make his Test debut in the fifth Ashes Test at Sydney, as England look to salvage something from a failed tour Down Under.

    Here, Press Association Sport looks at five things you might not know about the player.

    GOT A LUCKY BREAK

    Crane fell for the art of wrist spin when watching Australia great Shane Warne during the 2005 Ashes series.

    However, he was released by home county Sussex at under-14 level before his college teacher Raj Maru, a former Hampshire left-arm spinner who was still involved with the county, saw his potential and paved the way for him to join the side’s academy.

    PROVED HIS WORTH IN AUSTRALIA

    Crane became the first overseas cricketer in 32 years to make their debut for New South Wales when he played in the Sheffield Shield against South Australia in March this year.

    He was Down Under during the winter as part of the England and Wales cricket Board’s overseas placement scheme with Hampshire team-mate Will Smith but worked his way into former Australia leg-spinner Stuart MacGill’s NSW after performing well for grade cricket side Gordon.

    The last player to achieve that feat was former Pakistan captain Imran Khan in 1984-1985.

    SELECTION STRIFE

    It may seem unusual for a player about to be pitched into the heat of an Ashes battle – but Crane was not an automatic starter for his county last year.

    His omission for the first three games of the domestic season appeared to frustrate England’s hopes for the young prospect with national selector James Whitaker even betraying a rare hint of dischord.

    He said: ”It would have been good to see him play some cricket this year but we have no control over the selection of the Hampshire team”.

    There was one obvious line of defence in the identity of the man chosen in his place, Liam Dawson, who also started the summer as England’s first-choice Test spinner before being dumped.

    ELGAR…AT THE DOUBLE

    The Hampshire bowler had South Africa international Dean Elgar in a spin during a County Championship match with Somerset in May.

    Crane accidentally delivered a short, wide delivery that managed to skip back towards the batsman and double-bounce at the feet of the 30-year-old before clattering into the stumps.

    The reaction of bowler and batsman was priceless as disbelief from the pair was clearly visible.

    NOTABLE SCALPS

    Crane’s professional career may still be at the fledgling stage, but he has claimed some notable scalps already.

    His first senior wicket was that of Sri Lanka ace Kumar Sangakkara, which he took on his Hampshire debut against Surrey in July 2015, while his maiden England wicket – and only one to date – was that of South Africa superstar AB de Villiers during this summer’s T20 series.

    The youngster has several other notable names on his list of victims as well, including Mahela Jayawardene, Chris Rogers, Jonathan Trott, Jacques Rudolph, Adam Voges, Paul Collingwood and Ravi Bopara.​

    Provided by Press Association Sport

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