Bess admits to mental ‘struggle’ after Test axe

England off-spinner Dom Bess has admitted that it was “tough mentally” to be dropped during the winter Test tour of India and said he should have been managed better.

“To get removed from the side was tough and it was more tough mentally. I did struggle with that side of it,” Bess said about being dropped for the second Test. He was also left out of the third Test, despite the pitch turning markedly, and recalled for the fourth, when he took nought for 71.

“I was really disappointed, but Rooty [Joe Root] and Spoons [head coach Chris Silverwood] have both said how tough it was to drop me out of that second Test. I thought I was going to play in the third Test, but with the pink ball they thought it was going to swing a bit more.

“It was one of the tougher times I’ve had, but those sort of situations are going to happen again and I think as a player it’s about keeping your emotions as consistent as you can. That’s gone now and there’s no point in banging on about it, it’s done.”

Bess said he should have been managed differently. After playing every Test last summer, he took 17 wickets in England’s first three Tests of the winter. But a series of full tosses in the second innings of the victory at Chennai led to him being dropped for Moeen Ali.

“I’ve spoken to Spoons and [performance director] Mo Bobat and I certainly got across how I felt and how, at times, I felt I was managed,” Bess said. “I’ve also spoken to Joe and I understand where I stand with it all. I feel backed by these guys, who gave me good feedback in terms of what I need to do. I know what I’ve got to do now to have a successful international career.”

After moving to Yorkshire, Bess is now county team-mates with England captain Root. The two played alongside each other in Yorkshire’s opening County Championship game, the draw at home to Glamorgan. Bess returned match figures of nought for 106 but scored 38 not out from No7.

Bess accepts that Jack Leach has become the No1 spinner after a fine winter but that, aged 23, he remains confident of having a long Test career.

“Of course I want to be involved in the English summer. The first Test series against New Zealand is in the back of my head, but I’m very realistic – Leachy had a fantastic winter,” he said.

“I’m only 23. When you look at Ravichandran Ashwin or Nathan Lyon they have 10 years on me.”