ME A SWANN? YES I AM
Lord’s debutant Dom shows he has swagger and confidence of England spin ace Graeme
DOM BESS is hoping to go one better than England’s most successful ever offspinner when he makes his debut as a 20-year-old at Lord’s this week.
Graeme Swann was called up on an England Test tour when he was just 20, but Duncan Fletcher knew better than to pick a man who was loose with his tongue as well as with the ball.
Eight years later, Swann’s i n ternational career took off and was a roaring success.
And Bess (above) would love nothing more than to follow in the footsteps of a man who took 40 wickets at 24 at HQ.
The Somerset man has an element of the Swann swagger and confidence about him as he showed when asked if he felt he was ready for a debut after just 16 first-class matches. “Course I do,” he said. “There’s a lot of chat about me only playing 16 firstclass matches, but I always believe that everything happens for a reason. I am going to take this opportunity. “It has been amazing. Since last week – getting the call – just the chance to be here is a dream come true. It is a big occasion, but it’s just another cricket game, hopefully, if I play. “I’ve never played here, I was 12th man so I enjoyed the lunches – me and Roelof van de Merwe tucking into the lunches last year – I put on a bit over those few days! “I like to look to take wickets. I always remember watching Graeme Swann ( left). Look at him, he’d always attack the stumps and brought in a lot of dismissals – so I like to be like that. The best thing is I’m going to develop as well and it’s going
to be on the job as well. With the standard going up, hopefully, I’ll be able to improve as well. I’m 20, so I can keep improving.”
Bess was given his chance after Somerset team-mate Jack Leach, who made his debut in the previous game in Christchurch, suffered a broken thumb.
The pair have spoken about it and, despite the e misfortune for one, there is plenty of joy and support for Bess to try and help end a run of seven n winless Tests.