Hussey hints over Crane's Ashes consideration

Cape Town - Former Australia Test player Michael Hussey feels that the leg spin of Mason Crane could provide another dimension to the England attack in Adelaide.

Feedback on the pink Kookaburra indicates that the ball’s seam and colour make it difficult to pick wrist spin out of the hand.

This thinking led South Africa to play left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi in the day/night Test during that series, though he had limited success.

Hussey said on Cricket Australia's Unplayable podcast: "An interesting one that may come into consideration is Mason Crane, the leg-spinner.

"The reason why I say that is the pink ball, it's sometimes difficult to see the seam of the ball.

"What Sheffield Shield players who have played in the day-night Shield games have said, it's really hard to pick the leggies and the wrong'uns because you can't really see the seam.

"I wonder if England might consider just bringing in the wrist-spinner for that exact reason.

"I'm not expecting the pitch to turn a great deal but causing a few worries to the Aussies batsmen, in not being able to pick the wrist-spinner, might come into play.

"If you remember last year South Africa came in and played an extra spinner and it was a wristy (left-armer Tabraiz Shamsi) as well.

"It might be a smokey but I wouldn't be surprised if England went down that path."

England's off-spinner Moeen Ali suffered a cut to his bowling hand during the first Test and it is unclear how many, if any, overs he could bowl in the second Ashes Test.

If Crane plays he is likely to replace Jake Ball in the XI who was far from his best at the Gabba.

Hussey continued: "With Jake Ball, I did actually have a quick chat with Shane Bond, the England bowling coach.

"(Bond) said he's just a bit short of a gallop at the moment, he will get better.

"Whether his performance was good enough to warrant another place in the second Test remains to be seen. I think there will be a lot of discussion about it."

The second Ashes Test gets underway in Adelaide on Saturday (05:30 SA time).