OOH BESSY Star spinner Dom-inates but Stokesy gets a touch of dropsy
DOM BESS put South Africa’s top order in a spin to land his first five-wicket haul on a tour he wasn’t even supposed to be on.
The Somerset off-spinner, 22, had a rain-hit day to remember as the youngest spinner to take five wickets for England in 52 years but – incredibly – Ben Stokes had one to forget.
Stokes might be a world-class fielder who normally catches anything that comes his way but he spilled three chances at slip, all off Quinton de Kock’s broad blade.
Bess became the first bowler to take the firsy five wickets in an innings since Derek Underwood in Adelaide in 1975 – with a couple of fans telling him they had a bet on him to get all 10.
He said: “I did think about that a little bit. But as soon as I did think that I was brought back to reality. Ten is a bit greedy.
“There are still four out there to get but I’ll just be happy if we get them. A couple of lads told me they did bet on me getting all 10 at 7-1 but they lost that bet.”
Underwood is England’s record wicket-taking spinner with 297 and only he and Pat Pocock were younger than Bess when they took their first five-wicket hauls.
With 5-51, Bess is the youngest to achieve the feat overseas as South Africa were reduced to 208-6 at the close, 291 behind.
Bess added: “I’m just happy to be contributing to be honest.
“We saw Sibbers (Dom Sibley) last game, I think that that Crawley’s been really impressive up top and we know what Sammy Curran’s done.
“But how Popey played yesterday really reinforced to me that everyone’s contributing in this group, and age doesn’t matter.”
Just like it was for his original Test call-up in 2018, if illness had not ended Jack Leach’s tour early, Bess wouldn’t have got the call up as cover.
He admitted he is ‘gutted for Leachy’ but has grabbed the chance.
And thanks to his work behind the scenes with former England spinner Richard Dawson and former Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath he is developing into a reliable Test bowler.
Stokes put down a variety of chances after Joe Root had dropped the first.
De Kock was the only South African to make batting look straightforward, especially against the high octane pace of Mark Wood as he made 63 not out, even if he needed three lives to get there.
“At least Stokes is human,” added Bess. dropped from the last Test and then from England’s winter plans completely.
But Roy hasn’t given up on his Test dream just yet.
He said: “Without a doubt I want to play Test cricket
TOM HARDWICK landed a last-minute penalty to earn
a losing bonus point in the
24-17 defeat in
It gave the Tigers a home Challenge Cup quarter-final tie.
Harry Randall nicked a late try in
7-7 draw with slumped 27-0 at home to again. I want to right some wrongs and show people what I am really about because it was a pretty tough four Tests against Australia.
“But I did learn a hell of a lot which I would put to good use if I get another opportunity.
“I’ve been watching the guys out in South Africa and it’s made me even more determined to challenge for a recall.
“That means pushing myself into the picture with a big weight of white-ball runs as there are not any forthcoming opportunities with the red ball to prove myself.”