Bess of luck as Dom puts Kohli and Co in spin
ENGLAND’S GOLDEN ARM STRIKES
ENGLAND’S golden arm Dom Bess does not care whether it is careful planning or just luck as long as he keeps taking wickets to help his team.
The off-spinner captured one of the most prized scalps in world cricket to open his account in India yesterday, thanks to brilliant tactics and his laser-guided execution.
But as special as it was for him to dismiss Indian skipper Virat Kohli for just 11, the 23-year-old was just as animated and excited about his dismissal of Cheteshwar Pujara thanks to a lucky deflection off Ollie Pope’s shoulder.
Bess convincingly argued that bowlers deserve a bit of luck when so much toil goes into taking a wicket.
And when you can have days like the one Jack Leach had in being swatted for five sixes by Rishabh Pant, who would argue?
But it was Bess’s skill and cunning that shone brightest after he explained to teammate Rory Burns exactly how he was going to get Kohli out before lunch.
He motioned pushing forward and inside-edging a catch to short leg, and after the break his prediction came true as Kohli lunged at the ball and Pope collected the deflection.
His four wickets left England in a strong position on a day when, after the tourists were all out for 578, India finished on 2576. Bess said: “Getting Kohli was particularly special for me. It wasn’t about a magic ball, it was about putting lots of balls in a good area.
“The player and the calibre of who he is, is phenomenal. He is a world-class player, one of the very best. So this gives me a huge bit of confidence and this is the best I’ve bowled in Test cricket.”
Bess offered his captain control as well as a wicket-taking threat on his way to 4-55 on day three with India still 321 runs behind.
And when Pujara rocked back and pulled him into Burns’ hands via Pope, there was no hint of apology from Bess.
“It’s out,” he said.
“I’m not bothered about how it comes. ”
With Jofra Archer claiming the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Shubman
Gill, England’s bowlers dovetailed to good effect.
But it was Joe Root, above, flying through the air for a one-handed catch to dismiss Ajinkya Rahane off Bess’s bowling that summed up just how committed the team are.
Root’s back does not normally allow him to move too freely but he has specifically strengthened the area just so that catches like this might be possible.