Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CRANE COULD BE BOXING CLEVER
MASON CRANE will keep a cool head in the white-hot atmosphere of the Boxing Day Test.
That’s the view of Trent Johnston, the New South Wales coach who handed Crane a historymaking cap for the state last winter.
Crane made the rest of Australia sit up and take notice when he became the first overseas player since Imran Khan in 1984/85 to play for the Blues. And now he’s likely to make headlines again, this time as the youngest English leg-spinner in Ashes history.
There hasn’t been a matchwinning performance by an England leggie in a Test Down Under since Bernard Bosanquet bamboozled the Aussies back in 1903/04.
But Johnston believes the 20-year-old can cause Steve Smith’s side the kind of headache they’ve not suffered so far in a dismally one-sided series.
“Going into the series and knowing that the series has gone I think the pressure will be off him,” he said.
“Having someone who can turn the ball the other way to Moeen Ali would be a big advantage.
“He won’t be fazed. Yes, he’ll be nervous, but, as soon as he gets those first few overs in, then he’ll be fine. He’s a big turner of the ball with a good repertoire. The Aussies will look to attack him, but that may give him opportunities because the batsmen will take a few risks.”
So with a whitewash in the offing, does Johnston wish Crane well?
“From one Blue to another Blue, I hope he goes semi-okay,” he chuckled.