Mason Crane earned recall to England's ODI squad for the tri-series in Pakistan after a nine-year gap since his last cap. The Glamorgan leg-spinner last played for England in the 2017-18 Ashes final Test in Sydney, taking one wicket in a match defeat.
Speaking to the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Crane said he had "resigned to the fact it may not come again" during years without international recognition. His return came after a 2024 move to Glamorgan prompted a resurgence. He claimed 34 wickets across 14 County Championship appearances in 2024 and struck two maiden first-class centuries, fueling his England selection.
Crane credited Glamorgan coach Richard Dawson, who has since joined England's red-ball staff as assistant to newly appointed head coach Stephen Fleming. "He's been absolutely amazing for us," Crane said. "He has very high standards; he pushes you to become the best version of yourself." Crane acknowledged Dawson's departure to international cricket was unsurprising, calling him calibre to eventually lead an international side.
Injuries hampered Crane's 2018 season after his initial England breakthrough at age 20, and he struggled to maintain regular county cricket until moving to Glamorgan. Increased playing time revealed improvements Crane felt he had underperformed with the bat previously. "My confidence just grew and grew," he said. "And then this year, to get a few big scores has been amazing."
Crane's improved batting form also benefited his bowling by allowing him to play in matches he might otherwise miss. He took 15 wickets across 10 Vitality Blast appearances and played three times for London Spirit in The Hundred, taking two wickets. Some dismissals went viral on social media, but Crane rejected being defined by highlight moments. "I don't want to just be a highlights reel bowler, every now and then bowl a really good ball and just live off that," he said. "I pride myself on trying to play to the situations really, trying to work out how I'm going to get the most out of a wicket."
Crane emphasized adding versatility to his bowling approach through greater variation and tactical flexibility. England plays Pakistan in Rawalpindi on October 20, with the tri-series continuing through October 31, when the final takes place in Lahore. All matches air live on Sky Sports.