Why Dom Bess is both the luckiest and unluckiest spinner in English cricket 

By Ewan White

England Lions will fly out to South Africa in just under two weeks’ time, joined by Test squad members not involved in the ongoing white-ball series in Australia which includes Nottinghamshire left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White. 

However, the man who took a match-winning 5-51 in South Africa on their last Test tour in 2019/20 is not in contention. 

Instead, he’ll be getting ready to compete for Napoli Knights in the Italia T10 league. 

No, I’m not talking about Jimmy Anderson, but England’s forgotten man Dom Bess.

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Nothing wrong on paper

Bess’ five-wicket haul in the first innings at Gqeberha came at an economy rate of 1.64 as England charged to victory.

Operating both over and round the wicket, the 29-year-old developed a knack for getting batters caught at silly point or short leg. 

It was at short leg that he had India great Virat Kohli dismissed at Chennai in 2021.

Wisely pitching one wider after constantly being turned to deep mid-wicket, Bess found the inside edge and, perhaps, his apotheosis in international cricket. 

At his best, Bess can operate a classical off-spin that drifts in and tests the batter’s defence when they push forward or step back to defend. 

The adopted Yorkshireman demonstrated much of this skill during the past domestic season, averaging 30.72 in the County Championship. 

In addition, unlike a fellow spinner handed a wildcard England debut at 20-years-old (Shoaib Bashir), Bess is also more than handy with the bat, averaging 31.68 in the 2026 Championship campaign.

This is significantly higher than Patterson-White’s average of 24.95. 

Given that England are seemingly moving away from specialist spinners in Bashir and Jack Leach, towards more all-round packages, it begs the question why Bess was not included in either the Test or Lions squad for this winter?

Fortuitous Test scalps

Bess has been out of favour amongst England selectors in recent times.

Dropped after a chastening 0-71 at 4.26 against India in 2021, even his last Lions appearance was in December that year.

He would, however, be a favourite of Napoleon.

On paper, you might say Bess’ exile is harsh for a spinner who claimed 17 wickets at 22 in his first three Tests in Asia.

However, in contrast to Bess’ 5-fer in South Africa, his wickets in Asia involved more luck than skill. 

Bess over-pitched 18.7% of his deliveries in the first Test of the 2021 series in India and bowled a full toss every four balls in the second innings – he still went on to take 5-126 in the match. 

Bess managed to turn these bad balls into wickets.

Ajinkya Rahane found a diving Joe Root off a full toss and Chesteshwar Pujara managed to deflect a drag-down off short leg into the grateful hands of Rory Burns at mid-wicket.

Bess was simply repeating what he had done in Sri Lanka a month previously, Dasun Shanaka also managing to find a diversion at short leg which on this occasion looped back to the wicketkeeper.

Likewise, Niroshan Dickwella managed to thump his long-hop to Dom Sibley at backward point.

Bess’ other three wickets in that innings, quite frankly, came from ill-judged decision-making from the Sri Lankan batters.

Given these flaws, it is not surprising that – to quote the man himself – “when Brendon McCullum and Stokesy came in, I was out.”

Yet, with a new regime placing greater emphasis on county cricket, and his Yorkshire teammate Joe Root reinstated as Test captain, why is Bess still so far adrift?

Patterson-White edge

When it comes to batting and fielding, it can be argued Bess has a better case than Patterson-White.

Yet, the same cannot be said for his bowling. 

Although Bess took a healthy 32 wickets at 30.72, Patterson-White topped the domestic spin-bowling charts in 2026 with 42 at 25.11.

The Notts man even outperformed Simon Harmer on his home ground, returning 6-43 at Chelmsford in June. 

England fans will be hoping he can do the same again at Cape Town. 

Additionally, unlike Bess, the left-handed Patterson-White can turn the ball away from the right-handers.

Whereas Bess averages 42.14 to them, this figure is 34.32 for Patterson-White.

This was cited as a key factor by chief selector Marcus North in his decision to take Patterson-White to South Africa.

Yet, watching the tape shows the other underlying reason behind Bess’ continued exile.

New car, same engine

He still relies too much on luck. 

Despite taking season-best figures of 5-103 against Hampshire in August, four of those came through miscued attacking shots.

By contrast, in Patterson-White’s 6-43 at Essex, his victims were either bowled or caught behind the stumps. 

Whilst a batter being caught at long on is a staple of any spinner’s diet, Patterson-White’s bowling has simply been more compact and consistent. 

This is reflected in the fact that 45.04% of Patterson-White’s wickets are either bowled or LBW, compared to 36.20% for Bess.

As such, Bess could consider himself both the luckiest and unluckiest spinner in English cricket.

He has not done much wrong. He has performed with both bat and ball at a time when England require a spin all-rounder. 

At any other time, with his international experience, he might find his way back in contention.

Though he is not centrally contracted and also now finds himself behind Glamorgan leg-spinner Mason Crane in the Lions set-up who is eyeing a second shot at international cricket himself.

Perhaps a call-up for the Bangladesh tour in 2027 may yet come his way, but for now this seems unlikely.

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