Bess confident of making most of opportunity

Spinner set for Lord’s Test debut

Dom Bess is determined to make the most of his England call-up and is confident of thriving on his Test debut.

The 20-year-old is poised to make his international bow against Pakistan in tomorrow’s first Test at Lord’s, thrust into the squad because of injury to his Somerset team-mate Jack Leach, who has broken a thumb.

Asked at a press conference if he felt ready, he said: “Of course I do. There’s a lot of chat about me only playing 16 firstclass matches, but I always believe that everything happens for a reason.

“I think it is obviously a freak accident that happened to Jack Leach and I am gutted for him. But when I got the phone call, I am just going to take this opportunity.”

Bess, who described himself as an “attacking off-spinner” and “very competitive”, insisted he would not be weighed down by pressure. He said: If I put pressure on myself as well, then there is only going to be a spiral.”

Bess said Leach, who made his Test debut in New Zealand earlier this year, had given him plenty of words of encouragement and advice ahead of the match.

“He absolutely loved (his debut) and I saw when he came back – him and Craig (Overton) – when you get a taste of it, you want it even more.

“I really got that vibe off Jack and as soon as I’ve been here now, I want it. I want it more and more. I think that’s a very good trait to have.”

Bess has never played at Lord’s, acting as 12th man there when Somerset visited last year. Before that he had not even visited the ground as a supporter.

“I’m a massive rugby fan, love rugby,” he said. “My family, dad, two uncles are big rugby (fans) so I always used to go to Twickenham.

“So I never got the chance to come here. It will be a very special day if I get my chance to play out here.