England have named 29-year-old leg-spinner Mason Crane in their squad for the one-day international (ODI) tri-series in Pakistan, a three-nation event that includes the Pak vs Eng matches. The tournament also features Sri Lanka and begins on October 18 with Pakistan against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. For Crane, the call-up is a return to the international side after he made three appearances for England as a 20-year-old in 2017 and early 2018.
Crane's road back to England
Crane's last international game was the final Test of England's 2017/18 Ashes tour, played in Sydney. He took the wicket of Usman Khawaja there, after Khawaja had already scored 171 runs, but Australia went on to win the series 4-0. Crane also played two Twenty20 internationals (T20Is) against South Africa, and his only wicket in those games was that of AB de Villiers, a great of the South African side known as the Proteas.
His domestic form has strengthened his case. In 2026 he took 34 wickets in 14 County Championship matches, England's first-class competition, and 15 more in 10 Vitality Blast appearances, the domestic Twenty20 tournament. Those returns helped make the case for a recall.
The schedule shows Pak vs Eng games on October 20 in Rawalpindi and October 25 in Lahore. England also play Sri Lanka on October 22 in Rawalpindi and October 29 in Lahore, and the final is in Lahore on October 31.
What Crane has said about his return
Crane said he had not expected the call. “I didn't really expect it, to be honest,” he said in a podcast interview, adding that it was “a bit out of the blue”. He admitted that for a period he had accepted another chance might not come, and that he had put too much pressure on himself.
He said the last couple of years had brought back his spark and ambition. On his bowling, Crane said he did not want to be known only for “highlights reel” moments. He said he now tries to bowl more variations and is better at them, with the aim of playing to each match situation.
The sources do not say which matches Crane is likely to play, or whether the squad includes other changes.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 2017 and early 2018: Crane made three England appearances as a 20-year-old.
- Early 2018: He played the final Test of the 2017/18 Ashes tour in Sydney, his last international outing. Australia won the series 4-0.
- 2026: He took 34 County Championship wickets in 14 matches and 15 in 10 Vitality Blast games.
- Recent: England named him in the squad for the ODI tri-series in Pakistan. The sources give no exact date for the announcement.
- October 18: The tri-series opens with Pakistan against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. The final is in Lahore on October 31.
Aasan alfaaz mein
England ne leg-spinner Mason Crane ko Pakistan mein hone wali ODI tri-series ke liye squad mein wapas bulaya hai. Crane ne kaha ke unhein yeh call-up achanak mila, aur unka aakhri international match 2018 ke shuru mein Sydney mein tha. Series 18 October ko Rawalpindi mein shuru hogi aur final 31 October ko Lahore mein hoga. Agar aap cricket follow karte hain to schedule pehle se note kar len.
