Crane was told by Sussex as a youngster that, having played for their U11, U12 & U13 sides, he wasn't good enough to get into the U14 squad. He was picked up by Hants at that age and as they say the rest is history.
Some players, especially the small ones, simply develop slower than others but it is up to county coaches to recognise the talent and keep them in the system.
Crane was told by Sussex as a youngster that, having played for their U11, U12 & U13 sides, he wasn't good enough to get into the U14 squad. He was picked up by Hants at that age and as they say the rest is history.
Some players, especially the small ones, simply develop slower than others but it is up to county coaches to recognise the talent and keep them in the system.
I grew up playing in the Kent system. They're super encouraging til you have an off-y season and then they just don't want to know. There are some absolute big headed cunts as coaches, then again I've had one or two who've made me feel like a world class bowler and hot as shit, that's when I played my best.
I was never any where near good enough to be pro or even play at a high level now, but I had some unpleasant experiences in my early teens with Kent coaches.
Will be interesting to see what two will miss out. I reckon crane and one from Malian and Toby Roland jones. Harsh on trj but woakes is more long term
I reckon Woakes won't be quite fit for the first match. After that is anyone's guess.
Long term Hameed will open for England I am in no doubt of it. He is suffering from second season syndrome at the moment and it has been as bad as his first season was good. But he is showing the signs of coming through it and will be a much better player for it. My bet for the Ashes series down under. Until then you won't get a better stop gap than Rocky.
Crane was told by Sussex as a youngster that, having played for their U11, U12 & U13 sides, he wasn't good enough to get into the U14 squad. He was picked up by Hants at that age and as they say the rest is history.
Some players, especially the small ones, simply develop slower than others but it is up to county coaches to recognise the talent and keep them in the system.
I grew up playing in the Kent system. They're super encouraging til you have an off-y season and then they just don't want to know. There are some absolute big headed cunts as coaches, then again I've had one or two who've made me feel like a world class bowler and hot as shit, that's when I played my best.
I was never any where near good enough to be pro or even play at a high level now, but I had some unpleasant experiences in my early teens with Kent coaches.
heard the same from someone who went to my School. Still plays for them though.
Crane was told by Sussex as a youngster that, having played for their U11, U12 & U13 sides, he wasn't good enough to get into the U14 squad. He was picked up by Hants at that age and as they say the rest is history.
Some players, especially the small ones, simply develop slower than others but it is up to county coaches to recognise the talent and keep them in the system.
I grew up playing in the Kent system. They're super encouraging til you have an off-y season and then they just don't want to know. There are some absolute big headed cunts as coaches, then again I've had one or two who've made me feel like a world class bowler and hot as shit, that's when I played my best.
I was never any where near good enough to be pro or even play at a high level now, but I had some unpleasant experiences in my early teens with Kent coaches.
heard the same from someone who went to my School. Still plays for them though.
Just the environment you walk into is you're being judged. When you're a teenager that's the last thing you want to walk into when you feel all the time at school etc that people are judging you and that's how you feel about life generally. It should be a way of escaping and they sucked that out of me.
Crane was told by Sussex as a youngster that, having played for their U11, U12 & U13 sides, he wasn't good enough to get into the U14 squad. He was picked up by Hants at that age and as they say the rest is history.
Some players, especially the small ones, simply develop slower than others but it is up to county coaches to recognise the talent and keep them in the system.
I grew up playing in the Kent system. They're super encouraging til you have an off-y season and then they just don't want to know. There are some absolute big headed cunts as coaches, then again I've had one or two who've made me feel like a world class bowler and hot as shit, that's when I played my best.
I was never any where near good enough to be pro or even play at a high level now, but I had some unpleasant experiences in my early teens with Kent coaches.
heard the same from someone who went to my School. Still plays for them though.
Just the environment you walk into is you're being judged. When you're a teenager that's the last thing you want to walk into when you feel all the time at school etc that people are judging you and that's how you feel about life generally. It should be a way of escaping and they sucked that out of me.
Yeah don't sound great. Player in question used to enjoy playing for the school much more.
I think it's far too premature to pick Crane, especially with an Ashes series coming up. He's only 20, and has played just 25 first class matches (75 wickets at 42)
England have a tendency to pick spinners really young, then drop them. It was years before Swann returned, while others like Kerrigan and Borthwick have dropped out of contention
I think it's far too premature to pick Crane, especially with an Ashes series coming up. He's only 20, and has played just 25 first class matches (75 wickets at 42)
England have a tendency to pick spinners really young, then drop them. It was years before Swann returned, while others like Kerrigan and Borthwick have dropped out of contention
I agree, Rashid should still be Number 2 spinner, and can bat aswell, which will be useful if we played 4 seamers and 2 spinners, as we would still bat to 9.
I get England are desperate to find a quality spinner (although Mo didn't perform too badly against the Saffers did he) but Crane is 20 and his time will come, probably shouldn't be now.
Selectors say he is good enough. What is this obsession with stats that we have nowadays. They don't tell you everything, in all sports not just cricket. A good leg spinner is worth his weight in gold. The selectors have earmarked Crane as a very promising one. Good judges in here and Australia, including the best leg spinner of all time Shane Warne think this lad has something. He is still very raw but let us see what he can do rather than just right him off by saying his stats are not good.
is he good enough yet though? I don't watch enough county cricket to have a calculated opinion admittedly , but he has taken 70 wickets at 42. Perhaps he has been unlucky but I agree Killers opinion that it's too soon.
If this is the squad for the series I expect TRJ and Woakes will both get game as 4th seamer (jimmy, broady and stokes shoe ins). I hope Crane at least gets one game but probably in place of Malan. if this happens when Woakes plays our batting is still strong. I think we may see some rotation for these games.
Selectors say he is good enough. What is this obsession with stats that we have nowadays. They don't tell you everything, in all sports not just cricket. A good leg spinner is worth his weight in gold. The selectors have earmarked Crane as a very promising one. Good judges in here and Australia, including the best leg spinner of all time Shane Warne think this lad has something. He is still very raw but let us see what he can do rather than just right him off by saying his stats are not good.
The stats are saying he goes for over 40 runs per wicket. Why would you want to disregard that ?
You are correct, a good leg spinner is worth his weight in gold but 42 runs per wicket is not 'a good leg spinner'
Selectors say he is good enough. What is this obsession with stats that we have nowadays. They don't tell you everything, in all sports not just cricket. A good leg spinner is worth his weight in gold. The selectors have earmarked Crane as a very promising one. Good judges in here and Australia, including the best leg spinner of all time Shane Warne think this lad has something. He is still very raw but let us see what he can do rather than just right him off by saying his stats are not good.
I am not sure people are righting him off, just asking if it's too soon. That's a very fair question to ask.
With regards to the selectors, let's be honest, everyone makes mistakes and they haven't exactly got it right over the last few years.
I agree we should give him a chance. West Indies are not the strongest opposition at the minute anyway so it's a nice gentle introduction to test cricket for him.
With spinners it's not about being good enough in terms of having the raw skills or ability to turn the ball. It's far far more about experience. If you've been in the match situation before and know how to react, when to throw in your variations etc.
A young spinner that's just been smashed for 2 sizes likely won't have the confidence in his game to keep tossing it up knowing that the right ball will get him. And experienced one will.
Selectors say he is good enough. What is this obsession with stats that we have nowadays. They don't tell you everything, in all sports not just cricket. A good leg spinner is worth his weight in gold. The selectors have earmarked Crane as a very promising one. Good judges in here and Australia, including the best leg spinner of all time Shane Warne think this lad has something. He is still very raw but let us see what he can do rather than just right him off by saying his stats are not good.
The stats are saying he goes for over 40 runs per wicket. Why would you want to disregard that ?
You are correct, a good leg spinner is worth his weight in gold but 42 runs per wicket is not 'a good leg spinner'
However, its a lot to do with where your home ground is. Crane plays primarily at the Ageas which is a very young strip and is not renowned for spin (they even let Briggs go) - and Dawson is the primary spinner. Crane is highly regarded, and is obviously one of our best talents, ok the Ashes might be one step too far, but there's one way to find out.
With spinners it's not about being good enough in terms of having the raw skills or ability to turn the ball. It's far far more about experience. If you've been in the match situation before and know how to react, when to throw in your variations etc.
A young spinner that's just been smashed for 2 sizes likely won't have the confidence in his game to keep tossing it up knowing that the right ball will get him. And experienced one will.
Yeah I get that Canters- its all to do with the individual.
Comments
Joe Root (Yorkshire, captain)
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Mason Crane (Hampshire)
Dawid Malan (Middlesex)
Toby Roland-Jones (Middlesex)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Mark Stoneman (Surrey)
Tom Westley (Essex)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
Pretty happy with that, wouldn't have picked Crane though, still very young and wasn't getting into the Hampshire side at the start of the season
Some players, especially the small ones, simply develop slower than others but it is up to county coaches to recognise the talent and keep them in the system.
I was never any where near good enough to be pro or even play at a high level now, but I had some unpleasant experiences in my early teens with Kent coaches.
Long term Hameed will open for England I am in no doubt of it. He is suffering from second season syndrome at the moment and it has been as bad as his first season was good. But he is showing the signs of coming through it and will be a much better player for it. My bet for the Ashes series down under. Until then you won't get a better stop gap than Rocky.
Stoneman
Westley
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Woakes
TRJ
Broad
Anderson
5 seamers is a lot but its where we are at our best.
Guess he stuck with them as he had little choice.
England have a tendency to pick spinners really young, then drop them. It was years before Swann returned, while others like Kerrigan and Borthwick have dropped out of contention
I get England are desperate to find a quality spinner (although Mo didn't perform too badly against the Saffers did he) but Crane is 20 and his time will come, probably shouldn't be now.
17-21 August - 1st Test, Edgbaston - day/nighter
25-29 August - 2nd Test, Headingley
7-11 September - 3rd Test, Lord’s
Why would you want to disregard that ?
You are correct, a good leg spinner is worth his weight in gold but 42 runs per wicket is not 'a good leg spinner'
With regards to the selectors, let's be honest, everyone makes mistakes and they haven't exactly got it right over the last few years.
I agree we should give him a chance. West Indies are not the strongest opposition at the minute anyway so it's a nice gentle introduction to test cricket for him.
A young spinner that's just been smashed for 2 sizes likely won't have the confidence in his game to keep tossing it up knowing that the right ball will get him. And experienced one will.
Crane is highly regarded, and is obviously one of our best talents, ok the Ashes might be one step too far, but there's one way to find out.