England call is a ‘massive honour’ for Mason

The 17-year-old leg spinner has been selected for the England Development Programme under-17 squad for the series with Pakistan, which begins tomorrow.

Lancing College student Crane said: “It’s a massive honour to get my first call-up.

“To put on the England badge is what you always work towards and I can’t wait.

“I got the call from David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, who told me I was in the squad for the series after my good performances for Hampshire’s 2nd XI and in the Super 4s.”

The England squad had a warm-up game against South Africa yesterday, before they play three one-day games and a three-day game, all at Loughborough.

On his aims for the series, Crane said: “I just want to bowl well enough to get selected again.

“I’ve not played at this level before, so I’m not sure how I’ll do but I just want to bowl as well as I can.”

Crane goes into the series in fine recent form. He picked up six wickets in Worthing’s win over local rivals Findon last weekend, before he took four wickets in Hampshire 2nd XI’s one-day game with Middlesex and then five in the two innings against the same opponents in a three-day game.