England have been urged to give Mason Crane a whirl – because there is nothing to lose.

But former pace bowler Steve Harmison admits the Worthing-born leg-spinner would face a tough task in the last two Ashes Tests with his side 3-0 down.

Harmison said on talkSPORT radio: “They haven’t been taking 20 wickets. How do you change that?

“You’ve got a leg-spinner there. At least give him a go and see what he can do.”

But he warned: “Mason Crane has been mixing drinks for the last two months and you’re saying, ‘Go and win us an Ashes Test match’.

“It’s very difficult on these kids but it can’t get worse than it is.”

Ex-England bowler Darren Gough said: “He has got to play in Melbourne. If he doesn’t play in Melbourne, people will ask what’s he there for, a holiday?”

Moeen Ali is coming under pressure for his place but former England skipper Mike Atherton warned in The Times: “Mason Crane is as green as grass.”