Mason Crane bowling for the Hampshire Academy
Hampshire Academy product Mason Crane, who spent a chunk of his formative years playing in the ECB Southern Premier League, looks set to make his Test debut in the final match of the Ashes series in Sydney.
Crane, the 20-year-old leg-spinner, is set to come into the team in place of either Moeen Ali or Tom Curran as England take the opportunity to blood a new player with the series already decided and the whitewash averted.
While it remains possible that Moeen could retain his place if it seems conditions will justify the selection of two spin bowlers, it appears Crane will be first choice if England go in with only one slow bowler.
The selection would continue a remarkable journey for Crane. Just over a year ago, he was in Sydney playing Grade cricket for Gordon in a bid to gain experience. So well did it go - he claimed four five-fors and three seven-fors on the way to becoming the leading wicket-taker in New South Wales premier cricket - he was selected for New South Wales' Sheffield Shield side. That made him their first overseas player since Imran Khan in 1984-85, and their first English player since William Caffyn in the 1960s. He performed admirably, too, with five wickets in the match.
But his selection for a Test would be a huge promotion. He claimed only 16 Championship wickets in 2017 - at a cost of 44.68 apiece - and was far from an automatic piece in Hampshire's side. On this Ashes tour, he has claimed five wickets in first-class matches at a cost of 58.29 apiece.
Crane, the 20-year-old leg-spinner, is set to come into the team in place of either Moeen Ali or Tom Curran as England take the opportunity to blood a new player with the series already decided and the whitewash averted.
While it remains possible that Moeen could retain his place if it seems conditions will justify the selection of two spin bowlers, it appears Crane will be first choice if England go in with only one slow bowler.
The selection would continue a remarkable journey for Crane. Just over a year ago, he was in Sydney playing Grade cricket for Gordon in a bid to gain experience. So well did it go - he claimed four five-fors and three seven-fors on the way to becoming the leading wicket-taker in New South Wales premier cricket - he was selected for New South Wales' Sheffield Shield side. That made him their first overseas player since Imran Khan in 1984-85, and their first English player since William Caffyn in the 1960s. He performed admirably, too, with five wickets in the match.
But his selection for a Test would be a huge promotion. He claimed only 16 Championship wickets in 2017 - at a cost of 44.68 apiece - and was far from an automatic piece in Hampshire's side. On this Ashes tour, he has claimed five wickets in first-class matches at a cost of 58.29 apiece.
