When Ed Smith named his first England Test squad as national selector, it was notable for two contrasting cricketers from Somerset. The first, Jos Buttler, had long since left that nest and his wings expanded yet further from that point. As of this week, he has MBE next to his name. But the other who turned out for England against Pakistan last summer, Dom Bess, has been invisible since. That is until Friday in Cape Town, where he has bolted back into the box seat for inclusion.
That he was called up to this squad on the basis of a veritable pandemic – now striking 17 of the touring party and support staff – suggests a mood of desperation given how far Bess, now 22, had ventured from prominence. However, they are also similar circumstances to those that won him his debut. Then, Moeen Ali was out of favour having prioritised white-ball above red after a shocking Ashes series and Jack Leach, who took over as principal spinner, was injured. Now, the former is again on the T20 circuit after losing his Test spot and contract after Australia tore his confidence apart in the Ashes opener last August, while the latter has spent the last week in quarantine, hit hardest by the bug that has decimated the ranks.
Written by Adam Collins
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jan/01/dom-bess-second-chance-test-cricket-england-south-africa under the title “Dom Bess gets chance for second spin on Test cricket wheel of fortune | Adam Collins”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
