MacGill to mentor Crane during Ashes

Former Australia spinner Stuart MacGill has confirmed that he will be a mentor to England slow-bowler Mason Crane during the upcoming Ashes series.
MacGill, who took 208 wickets in 44 Tests, will now help the his country’s greatest rivals in the series Down Under.
Hampshire leg-spinner Crane worked with Macgill when he played for New South Wales in Australia’s four-day competition last season.
MacGill told The Sunday Telegraph: “Obviously I’d really like to see Australia winning as often as they possibly can, but when you bring it back down to a personal level, I’m not playing. It’s not really my team.
“So if one of my mates does well for another country (I want to enjoy in that and help). Steve Smith captains his T20 team in the IPL, he’s helping cricketers from other nations in much the same way as I am and he’s captaining Australia.
“I don’t see a great issue for me. Picking an attacking spinner like Mason is the kind of approach teams playing Test cricket need to adopt.
“In Australia, we’ve got good wickets and you can’t wait as long for the other team to make mistakes. You’ve got to tactically and skillfully make inroads yourself.”
The 20-year-old Crane, who is yet to make his Test debut, will go to Australia as England’s second spinner – behind Moeen Ali – but Macgill believes he has all the tools to succeed as the highest level.
Macgill continued: “I remember Mason bowling a wrong-un in the nets (for NSW) and it was a great ball. Eddie Cowan came out of the nets and said, ‘I’ve got one question: how do we get him qualified for Australia before next summer?
“There’s a lot to like about Mason. It’s not just his bowling. He’s modest and enthusiastically confident, and he loves bowling well.
“Despite his age, he’s not been given everything to him on a plate. He’s had to work for it and he’s had to be patient and that’s really added to the sheer weight of wickets he’s amassed.”
The first of five Ashes Test gets underway in Brisbane on 23 November.
Latest
-
News
Ali Orr helps Sussex to five-wicket win over Derbyshire
The 21-year-old opener was helped by partners Tom Alsop and Mohammad Rizwan.
-
England
Issy Wong living the dream as late wickets boost England against South Africa
The 20-year-old fast bowler made an impact on a rain-affected day three at Taunton.
-
England
England frustrated by the weather on third day of South Africa Test
South Africa were 51 for three at the close of play.
-
England
Issy Wong’s late double keeps England in control at Taunton
.England were rewarded for their patience during a lengthy rain delay.
-
England
James Anderson: England’s new-found confidence unlike anything I’ve seen before
Anderson first played for his country in 2002 and has lived through more than his fair share of new eras, reboots and fresh starts.
-
England
England paceman James Anderson keen to prove fitness ahead of India Test
The 39-year-old sat out the final match against New Zealand at Headingley due to concerns over his left ankle but says it now feels “pretty good”.
-
England
Andrew Gale ‘not willing to engage’ in ‘tainted’ ECB racism disciplinary process
Gale denied Azeem Rafiq’s allegations against him and described him as an “embittered former colleague”.
-
England
Michael Vaughan ‘steps back’ from BBC work after staff raise concerns
The former England captain had recently returned to Test Match Special coverage.
-
England
Simon Harmer bowls Essex to thrilling win while Surrey dominate Kent
Spinner Harmer took 15 wickets in the match as his side held off Hampshire by 12 runs.
-
England
Sciver stars and Davidson-Richards makes history – day two in the women’s Test
The England pair’s maiden Test centuries took their side past South Africa’s total at Taunton.