Duo extend Hampshire stays

Both players’ current deals were set to end following the conclusion of the 2017 campaign, but the pair have committed their long-term futures to Hampshire by signing new three-year contracts.

Crane featured prominently for Hampshire’s second XI and Academy sides before making his first-team debut in 2015.

Following another excellent season in 2016, the youngster has totalled 66 wickets in just 34 matches across all formats in his first two seasons.

The leg-spinner became the youngest Hampshire player to take a first-class five-wicket haul in his debut term – ripping through Warwickshire’s top-order to pick-up a career-best five for 35.

Crane said: ‘I’m really excited to be committing my immediate future to Hampshire Cricket.

‘With the core of the young players that the club now has, I firmly believe the sky is the limit as to what this group can do moving forward.’

Twenty-year-old Wheal joined the club in 2015.

He moved to the UK for the start of the season from his native South Africa after being spotted by former Hampshire coach Dale Benkenstein.

The seamer impressed in his four appearances during his debut season, taking eight first-class wickets, before coming into his own in the 2016 campaign as a strike bowler. Wheal claimed 34 wickets at an average of just 26.42 across all formats in a breakthrough 2016 season.

His ability with the ball hasn’t gone unnoticed at international level as the paceman also made his ODI and IT20 debuts for Scotland earlier in the year, making four appearances in total during the season.

Wheal said: ‘I am delighted to have signed and committed my future to Hampshire until the end of the 2019 season – I’m really looking forward to the next three years ahead.’