England leg-spinner Mason Crane, a former ward of Shane Warne, desires to win the 2022 County Championship title for Hampshire to honour the Australian nice, who died of suspected coronary heart assault on the age of 52.
Having grown up idolising Warne, the 25-year-old went on to play below his teaching at London Spirit in The Hundred final season, and in addition benefitted from the spin legend’s experience earlier in his profession.
“I really feel very, very honoured and fortunate to have had that have,” Crane, who has played a solitary Test for England in 2018, told BBC Radio Solent, the broadcaster’s local radio station serving Hampshire.
“I idolised him growing up and he was just so generous with his time.”
Warne was set to work with Crane once more this summer time however the plan needed to be shelved following the demise of the previous Australian cricketer final week whereas holidaying within the Thai island of Koh Samui.
“He solely had that one season as London Spirit head coach. But I’m certain there was a lot extra he needed to cross on not simply to me, however to everybody in that group, gamers and backroom workers, which is such an actual disgrace,” Crane said.
Warne, who played for Hampshire from 2000-2007 and led the county from 2004, had a stand named after him at their home ground the Ageas Bowl in 2012.
Hampshire missed the title by a whisker last season and Crane, who signed a new contract until 2024, said they are keen to win their first title since 1973 as a mark of tribute to Warne.
“Our aim this season is definitely to try and lift some silverware and do Warnie proud,” Crane mentioned.
“I’m certain that’s what he needed for the county and that will probably be our inspiration for certain.”
Crane further remembered talking to Warne during his England Test debut in the 2017-18 Ashes series.
“When you chatted to him, he was just so desperate to see spinners improve in the game and would share such intricate details of bowling with you, which was very specific and invaluable as a leg-spinner and such an honour.
“For a lot of people of my age growing up, that 2005 Ashes series in England was a hugely inspirational one,” he mentioned.
“Warnie was simply so entertaining and from that second on was the explanation I fell in love with the sport,” Crane concluded.
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