It is very easy for people to overcomplicate T20 cricket, it is a simple game: Mason Crane

Defending champions Hampshire Hawks spinner Mason Crane expressed that his side is raring to make ‘The Ageas Bowl’ their stronghold ahead of the crucial South Coast Derby against Sussex. Regarded as the ‘El Clasicoast’ of the T20 Blast, the two cross-town rivals will lock horns on Saturday, June 3, in Southampton.

Ahead of the high-voltage fixture, Crane expressed his delight in playing at ‘The Rose Bowl’, formerly called ‘The Ageas Bowl’ and stated how the support from the crowd makes a big difference during the matches. He further added that the side is gunning to make their home stadium a ‘fortress’ and win matches on the trot to get a stronghold. 

“Having such a good crowd like we do makes a big difference. My memories of T20 at The Ageas Bowl are us bowling second and defending a score; there are a few dots and the crowd get up and pressure builds, and it can make such a difference. We want to make The Ageas Bowl a fortress again this season, like it has been in recent years,” Crane was quoted as saying by ‘The News’.

Notably, the reigning champions have asserted their dominance against their arch-rivals on three occasions in the last five meetings. However, both sides have not quite had the best of starts in the top-tier league, as they have won just one game in three outings thus far.

Everyone has tried to be Shane Warne in the garden: Crane

Crane further acknowledged that he is looking to keep things simple in the shortest format without ‘overcomplicating’. The young leggie also paid homage to the late spin wizard Shane Warne, who proved to be instrumental in transforming Hampshire during his captaincy stint between 2004 and 2007.

“It is very easy for people to overcomplicate T20 cricket. It is a simple game. For me, anyway, it is about trying to keep it as simple as I can. I was very fortunate to spend a fair amount of time with Shane Warne. I think like any leg spinner my age he was obviously the player you looked up to. Everyone has tried to be Shane Warne in the garden. Everyone at the club is keen to build on the things he instilled when he was captain at the club,” he added.