Don’t raise Crane too high

ENGLAND captain Joe Root has cautioned against burdening Mason Crane with expectation after the leg spinner earned his first Test call-up.

Crane, right, 20, was a surprise inclusion for next week’s Investec Series opener against West Indies, which will be the first Test on these shores to be played as a day/night game with a pink ball.

Whether or not he gets the nod depends on whether England revert to picking two spinners or stick with the formula that brought success against South Africa at the Oval and Old Trafford – but for Crane to earn selection after just 25 first-class games hints at a special talent.

“It’s exciting as a captain because he’s a very talented young cricketer and he has got a bright future,” said Root. “But it’s important we don’t put too much pressure on him or expect too much from him at such a young age.

“He’s fully deserving of the opportunity he has got in this squad and I’m very excited to see him go about his business. He’s a very confident young man and hopefully he has a lot to offer England.” Crane comes in at the same time as Mark Stoneman, who replaces the out-of-form Keaton Jennings as the latest candidate to audition for England’s problem opening slot. If both feature against the Windies, that would be five debutants since Root became captain at the start of the summer. BRISTOL faced “massive competition” before securing the services of Kiwi star Charles Piutau – for £1million a year.

Piutau will move to the west country next year after his contract expires at Ulster.

His signing is a major coup for a club who were relegated in May. “Charles is one of the best players in the world,” said Bristol’s chief operations officer Mark Tainton.

“There was massive competition. It didn’t happen overnight. It was a long process – many phone calls, many conversations – but we’re delighted.”