JO READY TO GO
Spinner Dom insists he feels ‘dangerous’ & looking to be star turn at Old Trafford PALERMO LADIES’ OPEN
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 the Windies 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 offspinner has Somerset team-mate Jack Leach, allrounder Moeen Ali and legbreak prospect Matt Parkinson for competition.
But if the pitch in Manchester 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 I’m focusing on 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 rhythm, getting into it.
“It’s just a feeling I guess, and that’s certainly what I think I have at the moment. I’m playing but I’m 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. But it’s about making sure I focus on what I can control. I know it’s a big cliche but it’s as simple as that.
“I have to make sure I’m doing what I can do, day in and day out. There’s no rivalry with it.
“We’re helping each other to be as best we can for the England side.”
Bess (below in the nets yesterday) refused to use England’s lack of match practice as an excuse, but admitted there was some “rust” in aspects of their performance behind closed doors at Southampton.
In hindsight, the decision to
JO KONTA will return to action at the Palermo Ladies’ Open next month – the first event back on the WTA Tour.
The British No.1 (above) will be joined by Wimbledon champion Simona Halep and fellow Grand Slam winners Svetlana Kuznetsova and Jelena Ostapenko in the clay court event starting on August 3.
Konta decided against playing in this week’s ill-fated Progress Tour Women’s Championships where top seed Katie Swan became the latest name to suffer injury yesterday.
The British No.6 retired with a right hip injury at 1-4 down in the second set against Alicia Barnett after taking the leave out Stuart Broad looked like misadventure, but being bowled out for 204 in the first innings is rarely a platform for success – and dropped catches did stand-in captain Ben Stokes few favours.
Bess added: “You could say it was a case of missed opportunities, but 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 believes England should not become obsessed with express pace – and must consider alternating Jofra Archer and Mark Wood in the remaining two Tests.
He 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 have seen Archer do it, too, but it’s very hard to do every single game.” first set 6-4. US-based Swan only entered as a wildcard last week.
British No.19 Barnett, who has helped organise the £30,000 outdoor event at the National Tennis Centre, said: “It was a little bit too soon.
“She only landed last week and this is her first competition back so maybe too quick, too soon.”
Tournament favourite Katie Boulter (left) beat Alice Gillan 6-1 6-4. “It was definitely really nice to be back on court,” said the Fed Cup star.
“They were tough conditions but I found a way to win.
“This is a really good stepping stone to the bigger tournaments where I want to be.”