SPIN IT TO WIN IT
Determined Bess set to Dom-inate
DOM BESS has warned the West Indies: “When it spins, it will be my time to shine.”
Although he went wicketless on the final day as the Windies chiselled out a fourwicket win at the Ageas Bowl, Bess hopes he has done enough to keep his place for the second Test at Old Trafford which starts tomorrow. The 22-year-old off-spinner has Somerset team-mate Jack Leach, all-rounder Moeen Ali and legbreak prospect Matt Parkinson for competition.
But if the pitch at Old Trafford offers turn, England are expected to give Bess another chance. He said: “I know I went wicketless on the last day but it could have turned our way and the thing that I’m focusing on is how well it’s coming out at the moment. I do feel really dangerous and that’s a great place to be. “As a spinner, some will go your way some days and some won’t. But when my opportunities come, I want to make sure I take them, and when it spins, it’s my time to shine. “My consistency and accuracy within where I am landing it is dangerous. That comes through training, getting that feel, that rhythm. I’m very big on my rhythm, getting into it. “I am playing at the moment but I am not taking it for granted. I know Leachy is behind me and I know how hard he is working.
“I’ve had to fight for my spot for a long time I guess, always being behind. Potentially it’s a little bit different at the moment, the feeling.
“I’ve got to make sure I am doing what I can do, day in and day out. There is no rivalry with it.
“We are helping each other to be as best we can for the England side. That’s a great place to be.”
Bess refused to use England’s lack of match practice as an excuse, but he admitted there was some “rust” in aspects of their play behind closed doors at Southampton.
He added: “You could say it was a case of missed opportunities, but I’m a big one for looking at the positives and we created a lot of chances – we’ve just got to make sure we take them in this Test.”
Former England fast bowler Darren Gough says England should not become obsessed with express pace and must consider alternating Jofra Archer and Mark Wood in the remaining two Tests.
Stuart Broad was left out to fit in both 90mph speed merchants in the first Test and Gough warned: “I’ve said from the start – rotate Archer and Wood.
“We got a bit carried away after seeing Wood bowl really quickly in South Africa. We’ve seen Archer do it, but it’s very hard to do it every single game.”