England's Dom Bess says he wants to become a 'three-dimensional' player after Headingley success
Monday 4 June 2018 15:29, UK
Dom Bess says he wants to become a "three-dimensional" cricketer after impressing with bat, ball and in the field during England's second Test victory over Pakistan.
The 20-year-old was initially brought into the team as an off-spinner but after a half-century in the first Test at Lord's, he scored 49 at Headingley and took a brilliant one-handed catch during Pakistan's second innings before rounding off a genuine all-rounder performance by taking his first three international wickets.
Bess acknowledged he still has a lot to learn but insisted the process is something that he is thoroughly enjoying.
"I work really hard on my fielding as well, I'm looking to be the best backward point you can be," he told Sky Sports Cricket.
"If you can be that three-dimensional player, if there is quite a tough call between you and another player then I think you would look to go with someone who can bat, who can field and who can bowl.
"Obviously, my bowling is my strength and I will be looking to really improve, I've felt like I've learnt a lot in the last two weeks about playing international cricket. It's been on English wickets so it hasn't spun as much but the opportunity is there and you've got to take your opportunity.
"These guys come pretty hard at you, don't they? It does put you under the pump but I enjoy it, I enjoy the challenge because you know they're coming hard at you so you know they'll be opportunities.
"There is a smaller margin for error and obviously that is something I probably have to look at, I only bowled one maiden, but I'm still a youngster, I am still learning and I'm loving learning."
He’s a guy with plenty of energy and lot of skill. Like any young player he has a lot to learn at this level but he won’t leave any stone unturned in working towards becoming a full-time Test cricketer along with Sam Curran. They have bright futures and we look forward to how they develop.
Bess was also impressed by the way his England team-mates responded to last week's defeat at Lord's and the criticism that followed.
"It's been very interesting to see how these guys go about it and how you have a really honest conversation about what we can do," he added. "Then you go back out and produce something like that [performance].
"Obviously Jos is the only one who went on and got 80 but the processes were there, it was a tricky wicket and there was always going to be a good ball that had your name on it. It was just nice that everybody dug in and we got a team score and put pressure back on them."
Meanwhile, head coach Trevor Bayliss stressed the Test side still have a long way to go but warned that with a number of young players in the team, inconsistencies may persist.
"We played some good cricket but we've still got a few things to work on," he said. "I wouldn't say by any means that it was our most perfect game but it's another step in the right direction.
"We didn't say anything different [after Lord's]. It's what we've got to work out - how we can put in that sort of performance more often.
"It might be that we have to remind the guys what it feels like to be embarrassed if we don't keep our minds on it, stay focussed and put in that effort.
"It's not the first time we have played badly and come back and played really good cricket in the next game. We've got to recreate that every time we go out.
We've spoken to Jos about thinking about his batting like he does his one-day batting and at both Lord’s and here he started a bit different to the way everyone thought he was going to. He was very watchful early and gave himself a chance. He's the sort of the player that can flick that switch when he needs to.
"I'm sure it's a frustration for the players but - and I know it's a terrible way of explaining it - the team is in transition.
"We have got three or four guys trying to make their way into the team and you are going to get some inconsistencies."
