SOMERSET’S rising star Dom Bess is looking forward to continuing his cricket education when he flies out to Australia next week for a second winter Down Under.
Bess, who plays for Exeter and Devon when not required by Somerset, broke into First Class cricket last summer.
The 19-year-old all-rounder from Sidmouth wasn’t a guaranteed pick for Somerset 2nd XI at the start of the season in early April.
By the end of the season he had been in an England U19 squad and was playing in the Specsavers County Championship for the Somerset 1st XI having had an eight-wicket First Class debut against Warwickshire.
Bess appears to have come a long way in a short time, but the reality is rather different.
He worked his way through the Devon youth system up to 16 when Somerset started taking some notice.
A spell in the Somerset Academy followed, the proving ground for potential First Class cricketers.
Bess was sent out to Australia last winter the ECB to work with a specialist spin-bowling coach at the Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy.
He came back a different man, not just a better cricketer, and Bess believes much of his success this season can be traced back to a winter in South Australia.
“Going out to Sydney made a massive difference to me, as a cricketer and a person,” said Bess.
“You have to stand on your own two feet as an individual and a cricketer.
“They take their cricket seriously in Australia and play it hard, which is the way I like it.
“Club cricket over there is different to this country as if the State team does not have a game you can find yourself playing with or against a big name.
“The environment made me think about my cricket more and made me more determined to succeed.
“I learned a lot out there and hope to learn more this winter.”
Bess worked with former Australian leg-spinner Peter Sleep last winter and will be hooking up with him again, this time with West Torrens CC in Adelaide.
“This winter is all about personal development and learning more about my trade as an off-spinner,” said Bess.
Bess was recently named Devon’s young player of the year and took home the imposing Buller Bowl from the county’s annual awards night in Exeter.
Young cricketers from every age-group team in Devon from the age of 10 were at the presentations, hosted in the banqueting suite at Sandy Park.
Not that long ago Bess was one of the young hopefuls: now he is making his way up the pro cricket ladder.
Interviewed by Mark Tyler, master of ceremonies for the evening, Bess told the young cricketers where his own cricket journey started.
“It wasn’t this summer but all the summers and winters that have gone before,” said Bess.
“It started when I was sitting where you lads are now, listening to Chris Read (Notts & England), the Overtons (Somerset and England Lions) and, Lewis Gregory (Somerset & England Lions) talking about how they came through.
“It was always a dream to be in their shoes, and now I am.
“Training and practice are so important to make sure you bowl your best ball.
“You play hard cricket against good players – work hard and make the best of the opportunity.
“At the start of last season I was playing for Exeter and Devon – now I have a contract with Somerset.
“Keep playing as you never know where you will end up. Things can happen very quickly.”
