England are expected to hand a Test debut to Hampshire leg-spinner Mason Crane in Sydney tomorrow night.

Coach Trevor Bayliss has given the strongest hint yet that the 20-year-old will win his maiden cap in the Ashes finale, with England able to “look at some different people” as they try to break their duck in a series lost in Perth before Christmas.

Since then, England have recorded a more encouraging draw in Melbourne to at least ensure they will not suffer a third 5-0 whitewash in four tours to Australia.

Crane’s graduation is not entirely contingent on England dropping badly out-of-form Moeen Ali, but that seems the most likely scenario.

Either way, if the leg-spinner does begin his Test career at the SCG on Thursday, he will be doing so on the same ground where his grade cricket tour Down Under last winter culminated in an unexpected Sheffield Shield call-up for New South Wales.

Asked if Crane is ready for Tests, Bayliss said: “There’s maybe no time like the present to find out.

“We think he’s a guy that has got the goods, and the more he plays at this level the better he will get.

“You’ve got to start somewhere.”

Crane has taken 75 wickets at 43.96 in 29 first-class matches, including 61 at 43.67 in 24 appearances for Hampshire, 5-116 for New South Wales and 5-289 in his two tour matches against Cricket Australia XIs.