BESS FORM IS SO CLOSE
Dom fires Windies warning
I do feel dangerous, it’s a great place to be
DOM BESS is feeling dangerous and warned the West Indies: “When it spins, it will be my time to shine.” Although he went wicketless on the final day as West Indies chiselled out a four-wicket 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, allrounder Moeen Ali and leg-break prospect Matt Parkinson for competition.
But if the pitch at Old Trafford offers turn, England are expected to give it their Bess shot again. 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. I don’t look too much into that. 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. It’s just a feeling I guess and that’s certainly what I think I have got at the moment.
“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, always being behind. Potentially it’s a little bit different at the moment, the feeling.
“But it’s about making sure that I focus on what I can control. I know it’s a big cliche but it is as simple as that. 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 performance.
In hindsight, the decision to leave out Stuart Broad to accommodate both 90mph quicks Jofra Archer and Mark Wood looked like misadventure, but getting bowled out for 204 in the first innings is rarely a platform for triumph. And former England fast bowler Darren Gough says the side should not become obsessed with express pace, warning: “I’ve said from the start – rotate Archer andWood.”