HAMPSHIRE are organising a Shane Warne masterclass for Mason Crane.

Leg-spin prodigy Crane set up Hampshire’s 216-run win against Warwickshire with 5-35 in ten overs, writes Simon Walter.

Despite finishing wicketless in the final innings, the 18 year-old has ten wickets at 21.3 from his first two LV County Championship matches Now a tutorial with Warne, who took 276 wickets at 25.5 for Hampshire from 2004-07, is being planned to accelerate Crane’s path along the leg-spin learning curve.

Hampshire coach Dale Benkenstein said: “Warney’s very happy to come down and help whenever he can.

“He’s a very busy man but the club has already got a close association with him and has been in contact through [director of cricket Giles White and Rod [Bransgrove].

“There may be some contact between the two of them – but only about on-the-field stuff!

“Mase is going to get a lot of people telling him what to do and trying to be the guy that’s made him.

“The hardest thing for him is being strong enough to do the basic things well. Warney would be good at instilling that. He’s a normal bloke who had his ups and downs but stuck to it and was a really tough character.

“Consistency’s the most important thing.

“If he can land his leg-spinner under pressure every time he’ll be a fantastic bowler and Warney often talks about the importance of knowing you can do it when someone’s going at you in front of 100,000 people.

Crane has had an incredible impact since making his debut on July 10.

He has played in all but one of Hampshire’s 11 games in all competitions – and only been on the losing side twice in the last month.

“A leg-spinner always gives you a bit of X factor and if we have that luxury of picking him, then we will,” continued Benkenstein.

“Mase is still very young so there are going to be inconsistencies and we need to keep his feet on the ground and remember he’s only 18.

“But when he gets it right you see some fantastic signs. He has to keep performing but at the moment he’s doing a good job.

“Leg spin’s a really tough art but he’s a tough character with real self belief – as in proper belief, not pretend belief.

“It’s going to be tough, sometimes it’s easier when you first come in because no-one has seen you before.

“People will work out ways to play against him but he’s got the character to handle that. He also showed real guts when he batted, he has the ingredients to become a really good player.”