Mason Crane signs two-year deal with Hampshire
Tuesday 13 October 2015 14:15, UK
Promising young leg-spinner Mason Crane has signed a new two-year contract with Hampshire.
The 18-year-old signed a development contract with the county in July and Crane put up a series of impressive performances afterwards to earn a senior deal.
He claimed two wickets on his debut in their NatWest T20 Blast win over Sussex and became the youngest Hampshire player to take a five wickets in a County Championship innings against Warwickshire in August.
Crane was named as the county's Breakthrough Player of the Year and, along with team-mate Brad Taylor, will head to Sri Lanka in December to play for England U19s in a Tri-Series against the hosts and India.
"'I'm delighted to have been rewarded with a new deal - hopefully I can push on after a good season and cement my place in the first-team," Crane told the Hampshire website.
"I know I need to keep taking wickets and putting in good performances and I'm looking forward to testing myself against the best players in Division One again next year.
"I've got a busy winter ahead with the England U19s and I'm looking forward to playing in different conditions which will hopefully put me in a good place ahead of the new season."
Director of cricket Giles White added: "Mason has shown a huge amount of potential in the first-team games he has played in this season and he thoroughly deserves this new contract.
"At his age he still needs to be given time to develop, but he has impressed everyone at the club both on and off the field. He has all the ingredients to become a very fine bowler and we are hopeful that Mason will play a big part in the club's future."
