Mason Crane is set to join England's Under-19s for the last two matches of their Royal London One-Day Series against Australia – including Saturday's final clash at Worcestershire's New Road ground.
Crane, a leg spinner from Shoreham in Sussex, has made rapid strides with Hampshire this summer, and England's coach Andy Hurry was happy to leave him playing regular county cricket even though it meant him missing the four-day match against Australia in Durham as well as the first three 50-over games.
But Hampshire are not involved in the latest round of matches in the LV= County Championship that start on Friday, so Hurry has agreed with their director of cricket Giles White that Crane can link up with the England squad after the Royal London One-Day Cup match against Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge today.
That means he could join fellow Hampshire spinner Brad Taylor in the England team for Thursday's game in Leicester followed by the last game of the series at New Road.
Crane was part of the Hampshire squad for last Friday's NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final with Worcestershire Rapids at New Road.
Hurry has been pleased with the performances in county cricket of players who have been recently involved with the England development programme or various age groups including Worcestershire duo Joe Clarke and Ed Barnard.
"All the decisions we make about every player are based on what is best for their individual development," said Hurry.
"It's been pleasing to see Mason making such an impression with Hampshire this summer, as well as other players who have recently been on the EDP (England Development Programme) or in our Under-19 or Under-17 teams such as Matt Fisher at Yorkshire, Sam Curran at Surrey, and Ed Barnard and Joe Clarke at Worcestershire.
"I've been in regular contact with Giles White at Hampshire and it's great that Mason will now be able to have the experience of playing against Australia in these last two games. It's been an excellent series so far and at 1-1 with two to play, it's set up perfectly for a good finish."
England lost the first game at South Northumberland CC in Gosforth but bounced back, after a washout in Chesterfield, to square the series with a three-wicket win in Derby on Monday night, set up by a brilliant century from Dan Lawrence.
Essex announced the following day that Lawrence had signed an extended contract with the club, and Worcestershire have also announced new deals in recent days for Barnard and Clarke, who were both regulars for England Under-19s in 2014.
England's only fitness concern ahead of tomorrow's game at Grace Road is Saqib Mahmood, the Lancashire fast bowler who suffered a nasty cut to his hand when dropping a sharp chance offer by Australia's captain Jake Doran. Mahmood, who was making his first appearance of the series after suffering a calf injury in the four-day match, had bowled an impressive new-ball spell.
