Hampshire's Mason Crane included in New South Wales Sheffield Shield squad
Monday 6 March 2017 10:40, UK
New South Wales have included Hampshire leg-spinner Mason Crane in their Sheffield Shield squad to face South Australia on Tuesday.
The 20-year-old, a star of England's U19 team in recent years, is in a 13-strong squad for the match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Crane has been playing grade cricket in Sydney for the Gordon club and has taken 45 wickets so far at an average of just over 20, which includes three seven-wicket hauls.
Should he be selected, Crane would be the first overseas player to represent New South Wales since Imran Khan, back in 1984-85!
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The squad is a strong one, including multiple Australia internationals and a returning Pat Cummins.
Cummins is scheduled to play his first Sheffield Shield match in seven years, having been absent with a series of injuries when not away with the international side.
"I'm pumped, at the start of the year I had a couple of goals and one of those was to get back in the ODI squad for Australia and the other was to play Shield cricket," said Cummins, who last played for the Blues in the 2010-11 season.
"I'm pretty happy to be near the end of the season and hopefully have ticked off both of those goals. I've got to find the baggy blue at the back of the cupboard!
"I feel like I have been playing a lot of cricket, and I've been able to play a few First Class games in the last couple of years.
"But it is pretty scary to think how long ago my last Shield game was for NSW. It is where it all started for me, I'm just so keen to get back out there."
