IF Mason Crane thrives on the T20 international stage, he will have no problem adapting to Test cricket.

That is the view of Raj Maru, the man who discovered Hampshire’s leg-spinner as a 13 year-old before recommending him to his former county, following Sussex’s decision to omit him from their U14 team.

Maru, who met Crane through his role as cricket master at Lancing College, still mentors his former pupil and will be at The Ageas Bowl tonight, along with two minibus loads from the 20 year-old’s alma mater.

The former Hampshire spinner admits to being surprised that Crane is being blooded on the international T20 stage, considering he has only played five games in the format (his three wickets all came in his first two Natwest20 Blast appearances for Hampshire in 2015).

But Maru is confident the prodigy will take his opportunity.

He said: “It was a shock selection, it took a long time to sink in when Mason got the phone call.

“I thought he might have started for England by playing Test cricket but he’s got to make his mark sooner or later and England clearly feel he can handle the fast pace of a T20 and that he’ll be an ideal back-up to Adil Rashid.

“If he can cope with the pressure of a T20 international he can cope with anything.

“He’s grown in confidence and does better when he’s under the pump. It’s a good challenge for him.”

Crane thrived during his winter in Sydney under the tutelage of former Australia leg-spinner Stuart MacGill.

He did so well for his club that he became the first overseas player since Imran Khan to play for New South Wales.

England were also impressed by his pre-season performances in the 50-over series, for the South against the North in Dubai, which featured six wickets in two games, including 4-39.

“He’s matured a lot on and off the field,” continued Maru.

“He’s grown up and all parts of his game have improved a lot.

“As a youngster it’s easy to be a bit tentative and shy but Stuart MacGill has helped him bowl with more aggression and he’s got more subtle variations than anyone else I know of.

“Everything is working nicely, the mechanics of his action are spot on.

“He just needs to start gaining experience.”

All being well, Crane will take to international cricket as well as Pakistan’s 18 year-old leg-spinner Shadab Khan.