Mason Crane is a right-arm leg-spin bowler and right-hand batter.
He was born in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex and has played for England in both Test and IT20 formats.
After joining the Club’s set-up at U14 level, he quickly became a regular for Hampshire at age-group level and through to the Academy. Aged just 18, Crane was given his First XI debut in a T20 fixture against Surrey in July 2015, where he instantly impressed – picking up the scalps of experienced pair Kumar Sangakarra and Vikram Solanki.
From then, Crane enjoyed a hugely successful year at Utilita Bowl and he became the youngest Hampshire player to take a five-wicket haul in the County Championship when he finished with figures of 5-35 against Warwickshire, while also receiving a call-up to the England Under 19 squad.
Although white-ball opportunities were limited in 2016, he continued to shine in red-ball action, claiming 31 wickets in 12 matches. Whilst spending the winter in Australia for grade side Gordon CC, he took incredible back-to-back seven wicket hauls. Those performances earned him a spot in the New South Wales side for a Sheffield Shield clash, which saw him become the first overseas player since Imran Khan in 1984/85 to play state cricket in Australia.
Crane continued to impress on the county scene in 2017, proving his value in both red and white-ball competitions as he claimed 49 wickets across all three formats. That excellent form saw him receive a first senior England call-up, where he featured in two T20I matches for Eoin Morgan’s side – picking up the scalp of AB De Villiers as his first international wicket – before also getting the nod for England’s 2017/18 Ashes series in Australia, a tour which saw him make his Test debut.
Despite returning to England with a back stress-fracture which prevented him from playing a large role in 2018, Crane still managed to be instrumental in Hampshire’s Royal London One-Day Cup triumph in June – taking a total of 15 wickets.
After working on regaining full fitness throughout that winter, the spinner was able to head into the 2019 season with his injury fully healed, and he enjoyed a positive campaign particularly in white-ball cricket. He claimed 14 wickets to help push Hampshire to a second consecutive 50-over final, alongside 11 Vitality Blast scalps.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a truncated 2020 domestic season, Crane performed excellently, picking up 14 wickets at an average of just 13.57 in five Bob Willis Trophy matches, along with nine scalps at 22 apiece in the Vitality Blast.
2021 came around and Crane once again showed his white-ball credentials for Hampshire, picking up 16 wickets in the Vitality Blast. He spent time in and out of the County Championship side but still managed to impress in only six appearances. His 23 wickets at 25.52 apiece, while a best of 5-41 against Lancashire almost bowled Hampshire to the Division One title.
His performances were rewarded with a place on the England Lions tour of Australia which ran alongside the main squads Ashes tour.
2022 saw limited opportunities for Crane in red-ball cricket, which resulted in the leg-spinner going out on loan to Sussex for a short period. However, during Hampshire Hawks’ successful 2022 Vitality Blast campaign, Crane took 11 wickets as the Hawks won the T20 competition for the first time since 2012.
He was again selected in an England Lions squad for three ODIs against Sri Lanka, alongside Hampshire youngster Tom Prest.
Crane made appearances in all three formats during 2023, taking a total of 14 wickets as the Club challenged for silverware on all fronts.
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