Mike Hussey feels England could hand Mason Crane a debut in the day-night Test

Keeping in mind the conditions and situation of the Ashes 2017 series, former Australian batsman Mike Hussey feels that the visitors could introduce the debutant leggie Mason Crane in the upcoming day-night Test match at Adelaide. Mr Cricket believes that a leg-spinner might prove to be a big threat, considering their uniqueness and natural abilities of the pink ball to spin used in day and night fixtures. Hussey also said that the 20-year-old wrist spinner could be an option for the visitors to make a comeback in the series.

Crane recently made his T20I debut against South Africa and got 2 international games to play. He was picked in the squad for the Ashes series as the second spinner, with all-rounder Moeen Ali being the definite choice. The leggie bowled extremely well in the practice games and also had a great domestic season in England.

Leg-spinners can be a unique threat to the hosts

The Aussie legend revealed that the visitors could make a change in their playing eleven in the second Test match, considering the pink ball, Crane could make his debut. He stated that it becomes difficult at times to clearly see the seem in case of the pink ball, which allows the wrist spinners to come into the game. Hussey also spoke about the day-night match conditions and views shared by the Sheffield Shield players who played with the pink ball recently.

“An interesting one that may come into consideration is Mason Crane, the leg-spinner. The reason why I say that is the pink ball, it’s sometimes difficult to see the seam of the ball. What JLT Sheffield Shield players who have played in the day-night Shield games have said, it’s really hard to pick the leggies and the wrong’uns because you can’t really see the seam,” said the Aussie batting legend as quoted by Cricket Network.

The 42-year old Australian said that he is not expecting the Adelaide track to turn much. But the wrist spinner could be a unique threat and a difficult option to pick for the Aussie batters. He also revealed that earlier the Proteas had also played a leg-spinner in Tabraiz Shamsi in their side in the day-night game against the Australians.

“I’m not expecting the pitch to turn a great deal but causing a few worries to the Aussies batsmen, in not being able to pick the wrist-spinner, might come into play. If you remember last year South Africa came in and played an extra spinner and it was a wristy (left-armer Tabraiz Shamsi) as well,” Hussey concluded.