England off-spinner Dom Bess believes his consistency and accuracy is something that might give him a consistent presence in international cricket despite being just five Tests old, PTI reported.
The 22-year-old took two wickets in the first innings of the opening Test against the West Indies at Southampton but went wicketless on the final day as the visitors chased down a 200-run target to claim a four-wicket win.
“I feel like I am attacking both edges of the bat. My consistency and accuracy within where I am landing it is dangerous,” he said via video conference on Tuesday. “That comes through training, getting that feel, that rhythm...and that’s certainly what I think I have got at the moment.”
Bess could have taken a wicket on the final day if stand-in skipper Ben Stokes would have been able to hold on to Jermaine Blackwood’s catch at slip early in his innings. He had also trapped Roston Chase in front but the review didn’t go his way despite Hawk-Eye suggesting that the ball would have hit the top of middle stump.
“I know I went wicketless but it could have turned. 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,” Bess said.
“As a spinner, some will go your way some days and some won’t, that is cricket. I don’t look too much into that. I want to contribute with bat, ball and in the field. When my opportunities come I want to make sure I take them.”
Bess is unfazed by all the talk of pressure. “I’m used to bowling on spinning wickets, I’m not worried. People talk about this pressure of it being on me on the last. I actually flip it round, it’s a great opportunity,” he said.
Aware that he has to find a way to stay ahead of fellow spinners Mooen Ali and Jack Leach to keep his place in the team, Bess said he has been following some of the best off-spinners in the game to sharpen his craft.
“I grew up watching [Graeme] Swanny as an Englishman. Jeetan Patel has been dominating the county system. I look at Simon Harmer, he is a quality off-spinner. I’ve worked a little with [Rangana] Herath,” he said.
“These guys have a lot of similarities and that’s why they are the best in the world. A big one is consistency, where they are landing the ball, how many revs they can get on it... For me, it is best to make sure I keep my head grounded, keep working, keep having this no-ego approach.”
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