Mason Crane set to make England debut in first T20 with South Africa
Wednesday 21 June 2017 17:44, UK
England are set to hand a debut to Hampshire spinner Mason Crane in the first T20 against South Africa on Wednesday.
Skipper Eoin Morgan has said all five of the uncapped players in England's T20 squad will play in this week's series against South Africa as part of preparations for the 2020 ICC World Twenty20.
Leg-spinner Crane appears to be at the front of the queue and is in line to make his international bow on his home ground when the three-match series gets underway at the Ageas Bowl on Wednesday - live on Sky Sports 2 from 6pm - with Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Tom Curran and Craig Overton also in contention.
Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Jake Ball are all rested as England look to move on quickly from the disappointment of their ICC Champions Trophy semi-final defeat to Pakistan.
"Within the series, everyone is going to get a game," said Morgan when asked how many of the new players could play.
"This is an opportunity, we don't have a T20 World Cup for two and a bit years, until 2020, so it is an opportunity particularly when the senior players are rested, to have a look at these new guys.
"We have had two sessions together, the potential the guys have is huge. The reports back we are getting from the start of the season and the North-South games, the guys did impress.
"The positive is we do have strength in depth and now matching that with opportunity is something we will see in the series."
South Africa will also be without several star names - AB de Villiers leading the side in the absence of Faf du Plessis, whose wife is expecting their first child.
Hashim Amla, JP Duminy and Kagiso Rabada aren't involved, with Andile Phehlukwayo, Mangaliso Mosehle, Jon-Jon Smuts and Dane Paterson likely to get the chance to advance their fledgling international careers.
Highveld Lions all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius, who has played in three one-day internationals, is likely to make his T20 international debut in the series.
Asked if he is concerned about facing an England side that includes several new faces, De Villiers said: "A few of our guys have played with the unknown guys in the English side.
"There's really good information shared over those meetings and there's also video footage and analysis of all of those players so it's not completely foreign to us - we know more or less what to expect.
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"Obviously you've got to play the player and the team you are playing against on the day, and adapt accordingly, and we'll be definitely ready for that."
Surrey opener Jason Roy will return to the top of the England order to partner Alex Hales after being dropped for Jonny Bairstow for the defeat to Pakistan after scoring just 68 runs in nine ODI knocks.
Roy was back in the runs for his county, striking 92 as Surrey eased past Worcestershire to reach the Royal London One-Day Cup final.
Morgan - who backed Roy to play in the entire tournament ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy regardless of his form - says the batsman continues to impress in practice.
"He is still the same fella," he said. "He has been working tremendously hard. In international cricket, if you are striking the ball well or are in good form it doesn't mean you will score runs.
"He came back for his county and scored runs and the proof is in the pudding. He looked good in the nets and did all the right things but couldn't seem to score runs.
"It is impressive that he has come back from this run of bad form and hopefully he continues it throughout the summer, everyone goes through a bad stage but it is now they come out of it that is important."
Watch the first Twenty20 international between England and South Africa live on Sky Sports 2 this Wednesday from 6pm.
