Dom Bess is hoping his 10-game T20 loan spell with Yorkshire can launch a different side of his career.
The two-time England Test off-spinner has rejoined the county on loan for the majority of the Vitality Blast group stages, starting against Nottinghamshire at Emerald Headingley on Friday night (6.30pm).
Bess, 21, has only previously played one first-team Blast game for Somerset, in 2016 – the same year he also played once for the England Lions.
But he is confident he has the skills to prosper in the 20-over cricket and, if things go well, the Hundred as well from next summer onwards.
Given his lack of first-team experience, Bess is taking a bit of a suck it and see approach to the next month in a Vikings shirt, and he is happy to take on whatever role the Yorkshire hierarchy want him to.
One thing is for sure, he won’t be taking a backward step, and he is determined to attack.
“I’ve gone down the red ball route very quickly,” he said. “But T20 is massive. We’ve obviously got the 100-ball stuff coming in, and people will be looking at this year’s T20 quite closely. It’s going to be a very important month for me.
“It’s also about showing Somerset what I can do in T20 at this level.
“I’ve played a lot of twos cricket in T20 and have actually played more 50-over cricket for the England Lions than I have for Somerset.
“So white ball skills, I think I’ve got it. I definitely believe I’ve got it anyway.”
Bess has played 23 second-team T20s for Somerset, taking 26 wickets (a best of 4-25) and scoring two half-centuries. He has even captained at stages in the last two seasons.
“I will obviously take the lead from the captain and coach to see what role they see for me,” he said. “That’s the most important thing.
“But I can see myself batting seven, eight or nine and playing some shots.
“Bowling wise, I see myself as quite an attacking option. It will be quite an interesting one.
“Whatever they want me to do, I will do it. If it’s the death option, I’ll be practising my yorkers and variations because I want to be successful in T20 and show what I can do.
“Wherever they want me to bowl or bat, I’ll do it. Not a problem.”
Bess also believes the forthcoming Hundred could have an impact on the style of play in this summer’s Blast.
“A lot of people are going to express themselves because that’s the way the games going,” he reasoned. “The Hundred will be in the back of my mind, so I’d expect it will be the same with other lads as well.
“It’s going to be quite a big 10 games for me.”
Yorkshire clash with the Outlaws is the first of four games in seven days.
They travel to Chesterfield to tackle Derbyshire on Saturday afternoon before facing Leicestershire at Grace Road on Tuesday evening ahead of Thursday’s blockbuster Roses clash at Headingley.
Bess added: “It’s important we try and get off to a good start.
“But the one thing about having a busy start is that it’s good if somebody does come off against you and you end up losing. There are plenty of chances to bounce back.”
Steve Patterson will be rested from the early stages of the competition, with Tom Kohler-Cadmore captaining the side. New signing Nicholas Pooran, the powerful West Indies wicketkeeper batsman, will also take the gloves in his five-game stint.
Team news
TEAM NEWS: Tom Kohler-Cadmore will captain the Vikings in their season opener on Friday with Club captain Steven Patterson opting for a period of rest. #OneRose pic.twitter.com/mlxAfPloZR
— Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) July 17, 2019
Tom Kohler-Cadmore captains the Vikings for the first time with Club captain Steven Patterson opting for a period of rest.
Batting all-rounder Tom Loten (broken finger) returned to Second XI action against Warwickshire at Stamford Bridge.
Ben Coad sustained a calf injury against Essex at Chelmsford and he failed to recover sufficiently for the Specsavers County Championship fixture against Somerset. His rehabilitation is ongoing and he is responding well to treatment.
David Willey also missed the home victory over Somerset due to a minor hamstring injury, but it is anticipated he’ll be fit for Friday night.
The Club’s medical staff are managing a lower back injury for left-arm orthodox James Logan. His rehab is ongoing and the injury will be reviewed at the end of the week.
The thoughts of Graham Hardcastle
Dismantling Championship title favourites Somerset is some way to head into the T20 Blast.
Yorkshire’s search for a maiden Blast title begins against a Notts side who have been there and thereabouts in this competition for a number of years now, winning the title in 2017.
But they are going to be a complete unknown quantity this year.
Will their troubles in the Championship have a knock-on effect or will they forget about it and play with freedom, almost a, ‘We’ve got nothing to lose attitude’?
But, more importantly, the Vikings have all the tools at their disposal to go all the way. Power with the bat and vibrancy with the ball.
I can see Matthew Fisher being the real go to man in the bowling attack this year.
He has made an encouraging return to first-team action in Championship cricket during the last fortnight.
That David Willey is fit again and available is a big boost, while it should be fun to watch Nicholas Pooran in a Vikings shirt during the next nine or 10 days.
Four games in seven days is a hectic start – two at home, two away – and that run ends with the Roses clash at home next Thursday.
Let’s face it, Yorkshire – past and present – have underachieved in T20 cricket. Now it’s time to shine. We’d all love a day out at Finals Day on September 21.
The thoughts of Jonathan Doidge
Talk about a season to hold the interest! After an up and down recent series of championship matches, the squad comes into this match on the back of the high of its emphatic win over Somerset in red ball on Tuesday. That truly was performance out of the top drawer, against a very good team.
What with that and England’s first ever World Cup win in 50-over cricket, it’s been a week to savour for Yorkshire supporters and cricket lovers in general, and almost as quick as a Duanne Olivier bouncer we’re switching to the short form of the white ball game. It’s time to Blast off!
Probably best to mention in hushed tones the White Rose record in this competition to date. In 16 seasons since its inception, the club has been to finals day just twice, the final itself just once (2012), and has never won it. Still, there’s always this year and with some hefty short-term contracts for next year’s ‘Hundred’ as potential bait, there will be no lack of motivation for players right across this year’s Blast to try to impress. It could make it the best year yet.
As a result, in their guise as the Vikings, Yorkshire will have to be better than ever to make an impact. Their Emerald Headingley record, especially when batting first, is second to none, which should clearly be a source of confidence. However, their away record when chasing is worse than the majority, and other teams will be well aware of that.
As ever, Andrew Gale will want to see consistency from his squad, and their first test is against a team that won the competition for the first time in 2017, and whose recent white ball record is healthy. Although Nottinghamshire have been on the receiving end of things in this year’s championship, they were comfortable 50-over winners against the Vikings at Trent Bridge in April, and this return to the shorter game might be just the fillip they need.
There is no doubt that Yorkshire has a strong squad, with West Indies star Nicholas Pooran the focus of attention in the opening five matches, David Willey with a point to prove, and exciting young talent Dom Bess also back on loan for at least the first 10 matches. Tom Kohler-Cadmore will be keen to impress while he has the captaincy reins, and there will be the sort of competition for places that should drive up performance. Maybe this year the Vikings can pillage Edgbaston for a trophy.
As ever, I’ll be bringing you full ball-by-ball commentary via both the BBC sport website and app.
