ENGLAND TURN TO WATERBOYS
Crane and Curran lined up for Boxing Day
ENGLAND are preparing to hand debuts to Mason Crane and Tom Curran in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Craig Overton is ruled out with a cracked rib and Stuart Broad could join him on the sidelines with a knee injury he has been managing all this tour but could require surgery.
Were the Ashes still alive, there is little doubt Broad would play, but England are considering turning to leg-spinner Crane and seamer Curran with an eye on the future.
The young duo would receive their caps before the anthems in front of 90,000 fans, with most of them baying for another Australian win on the way to a 5-0 whitewash.
And Crane (right), 20, insists he will be ready for the challenge thanks to his experience playing T20 cricket for England and his time spent at New South Wales last winter.
“The previous three games, I’ve felt ready to play if needed, so for this one I’ll just prepare as if I’m going to play,” he said.
“I think if I get a go I’d be drawing on pretty much everything. I think the T20s were a great experience for me, to have a couple of games in front of packed crowds.
“When AB de Villiers had a pop, hit a few away and I’m standing there not sure where to go.
“Jos Buttler, the captain, comes up, I ask him where do I bowl? He says, ‘I dunno!’ So I felt under pressure there, but I came through it and that’s an experience I can use.
“And then playing in Sydney last year, I’ll use that experience from a conditions perspective.” The step up to an Ashes Test, even if the main prize has been decided, will still be a big one and as a member of the squad Crane has seen up close just how intense it can be.
Even as a waterboy delivering drinks to the bowlers, the crowds have been getting on his back.
“Walking around’s tough,” he added. “If a bowler wants a drink on the far side, we’re drawing straws. But that’s to be expected.
“It’s not for families. You just laugh it off. There’s not much else you can do really.
“If I play, I’ll just try and enjoy it like I enjoy every game. You spend your life growing up wanting to play for England and I’m not going to let a few shouting Aussies get in the way of it.
“If I do play Test cricket I’m going to try and enjoy every moment.” Crane’s outlook and skill level are two reasons why he must play on Boxing Day, not to mention his variation, his unknown quantity and the fact that Australia are about as good at playing quality spin as England.
Joe Root has tried the right-arm fast-medium options and suffered a 3-0 reverse, which tells you it is not working.
The introduction of Crane will give the Aussie batsmen something new to think about and if they try to take him apart he will welcome their efforts.
“I don’t mind going for runs,” he added. “Trying to take wickets is my job. One of the big things I’ve learned is that you are going to be hit for six.
“It’s realising that every ball is a set play, just going back and bowling the same thing again.”