Mason Crane hopes to one day have a leg-spin masterclass with Hampshire and Australia legend Shane Warne.

The 20-year-old’s leg-spin education began when as a child he saw Warne in the memorable 2005 Ashes.

Although the Australian great also played for Hampshire, Crane has yet to benefit from a full-on tutorial with Warne.

“I’ve met him in England, very briefly ... he just said ‘keep spinning it’, like he does to most people,” Crane said.

“There has been a crack at trying to tee up [a longer meeting]. But he’s a very busy man, and I’ve got to get used to that.

“I hope one day I can have a bowl with him.”

Crane demonstrated last weekend that he lacks none of Warne’s confidence, twice dismissing Western Australian batsmen intent on smashing him out of the ground.

“You’ve got to get used to it, because that is the way Australians tend to play spin,” he said.

“I know they are going to come after me, so it is about holding my nerve and getting them out in the end.”

He has great faith too in his team-mates as they set out to erase the memory of England’s 5-0 whitewash defeat on their last trip four years ago.

“The confidence is high,” said Crane.

“The batters are hitting it well, and we know how good the bowling attack is, with Jimmy (Anderson] and Broady [Stuart Broad].

“If we play well, like I know we can, I think we can win.”

After his two wickets in the tour-opening draw against a Western Australia XI in Perth, he has pronounced himself ready to help retain the urn.
“Everyone’s main aim is to go home having won the Ashes,” he said.
“Any way I can contribute to that, and play as many games as I can, that will be great.”

Crane was included at the WACA after first-choice spinner Moeen Ali injured his side, and with the all-rounder still unavailable he is also currently playing in the day-night match against a Cricket Australia XI in Adelaide.

“I’ve got to be realistic,” he added.

“Mo is obviously a brilliant bowler, and he bats a lot higher than I do.
“But I’ll keep working hard.”

He intends to put last year’s Australian adventure to good use too.

“I loved it out here,” he said.

“It was great fun ... and I was very lucky to get a game under my belt as well for New South Wales at the SCG.

“I hope I can use that experience on this tour.

“I’m very confident if I was called upon I could do a job. 

“I hope one day that can happen, but I probably wouldn’t be here if other people didn’t think so either.”