Dom Bess keen to hold on to England place for first West Indies Test
Dom Bess is fully focused on locking down the title of England’s number one spinner but admits he first had to shake off some lockdown nerves.
With Moeen Ali on hiatus from Test cricket over the winter and Jack Leach struggling with illness, Bess was handed an unexpected opportunity in South Africa.
He helped a winning cause on his return to international cricket in the New Year Test at Cape Town and then claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in another victory in Port Elizabeth.
And while that makes him the man in possession, Moeen’s return to the five-day fold, Leach’s return to health and the presence of Matt Parkinson and Amar Virdi means no shortage of competition ahead of next week’s first #raisethebat Test against the West Indies.
Neither Leach nor Moeen were at their best on day one of England’s intra-squad match at the Ageas Bowl, both wicketless in combined figures of 22 overs for 89 as Jos Buttler’s side made 287 for five declared.
Bess enjoyed greater success bowling as Ben Stokes’ team were dismissed for 233 on Thursday, wheeling his way through 20 overs and dismissing Keaton Jennings to claim one for 60, and he makes no bones about his desire to stay ahead of the pack.
“The big thing I want to do is push that spot and make it my own, In my head, I want to start,” said the 22-year-old.
“That’s normal, when you’re in our position you want to be making the XI. It would be a good achievement and it brings a lot of responsibility to make sure I’m still bowling the best I can.
“There is amazing competition here and that’s good. There’s no spitefulness, nothing like that, we help each other, we’re looking to improve each other. It’s a really big challenge for me, making sure when I come into this arena, into these practice games, that I focus on what I can do.
“I think I’ve done that really well so far and I just want to put myself in the best possible position so that when that selection does come I’ve given it my all.”
While Bess’ action looked in good order on his return to competitive after more than three months, he admitted the coronavirus shutdown had left him fretting about how he would feel when he got back to the middle.
“After so much time off I was a bit nervous coming back into it,” he said.
“It’s been nice to feel the ball coming out nicely in my hand. In the month I had at Somerset I was pushing my coach, Jason Kerr, to keep bowling more. I had to be told a couple of times to stop and just build my way back. I wanted to get that feel back, that rhythm, the little things.”
Sometimes, though, the efforts of the man standing 22 yards away can render all of those little things irrelevant.
While generally tight, Bess was on the receiving end of one incredible shot from Stokes that left him open-mouthed.
“It was a really good challenge bowling at Stokesy. I thought I genuinely did him with one and he somehow hit me on the up over extra-cover for six,” he said with a smile.
“I was just thinking ‘this is why he’s one of the best in the world. He’s absolutely nowhere near it and he still middles it for six’. It was a good test for me and I think I bounced back strong.”
Latest
-
England
England will not adopt negative approach after humbling in India – Zak Crawley
England will aim to get ‘Bazball’ back on track this summer against West Indies and Pakistan.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.