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Dominic Bess’ Reflections on his Cricketing Journey
It’s been a very interesting journey. I guess cricket has always been in
my blood. Playing with my grandad, throwing and bowling me balls
in the back garden and down at the nets of Sidmouth. During the
summer holidays, when I was with my grandparents, I was always
watching the other cousins as they played up through the Devon age
groups. So, from a early age during the summer all I was doing was
playing cricket. Then, as I got older, my opportunity to go to Blundell’s
School in Tiverton was a game changer as I got to play more games
and have opportunities alongside the club cricket at Sidmouth and
then on to Exeter CC, where I moved at 16-17.
Sidmouth Juniors was where I have some of my fondest memories
playing and growing up with my closest friends doing the thing I
loved the most! I look back on these years and think this is why I’m
potentially where I am now. Firstly, because I grew up loving playing
with my best mates. I’ll always remember having to drive out to Bicton
(which was Sidmouth’s juniors/3rd XI and occasionally 2nd Xl pitch)
and those memories have always stuck! Also, my time within the
Devon age groups was the start of being competitive, but also where
I really enjoyed the company of my mates. I was so lucky with our
Devon age groups as in my year we had a core of five or six players
who went all the way through from under-10s to under-17s. When
I look back I think of the trips we had throughout the summer. The
‘Webby’ years of 16-17s were my funniest! They also include the
two tours I went on to South Africa with Alan Swift. And even the
famous Taunton Festival from under-10-under-14 were special! You
won’t believe but I’ve chatted about those days with other lads in
the England Lions who had also experienced the festival! So those
memories are so crucial to my young development.
Obviously, as I have got older I got a lucky break to join the Somerset
Academy. Looking back now was the stepping stone of understanding
how the professional environment worked. I was challenged constantly,
and I was never the stand -out, almost the opposite in the fact, so I had
to work twice as hard to stay with the likes of Ben Green and George
Bartlett, who were pushing England Under-19s from an earlier age.
What that taught me was drive and work ethic.
As my final year in the academy approached, realising I might not get
a contract was a huge scare as I didn’t want to go to university. Luckily,
Matt Maynard offered me a summer in Australia with the Lehman
Academy 2015/16. That was the next stepping stone in my cricket
development but also my development outside the game as a person,
which was key. My time in Adelaide living away with a group of lads
in a city was one of my fondest and funniest memories. This and the
hard programme with the Lehman Academy allowed me to reinforce
my work ethic and really push on for the summer back in England.
Once I got back, Steve Snell gave me opportunities in the 2nd XI, which
I grasped, and I started performing regularly for the side. From there I
played England Under-19s, my First Class debut against Pakistan and,
later on, making my Championship debut versus Warwickshire then
playing Notts which obviously put me on the radar taking two five-fers!
Once I had the slight taste for becoming a professional I really tried
to capitalise on that winter. So instead of training, I went back out to
Adelaide to play a full winter and train part-time with the Lehman
Academy. I played for West Torrens and the team went on to win
all three club competitions, which reinforced my development –
competing in a successful side but also again challenging me away
from home, which I did struggle with, but luckily I made some very
good mates and have great memories of that experience.
The Devon stepping stone also helped massively – experiencing
Minor County Cricket at 16 helped me develop and bridge the gap
from club cricket through 2nd XI to First Class cricket. At times, the
Minor County competition can be of a very high standard! It was also
special allowing me to step out and play with my cousins! I have fond
memories of playing Berkshire at Exmouth when we chased down
nearly 250, I think, which enabled us to reach the quarter-finals of the
50-over KO Trophy competition. If I do ever have time, and I’m free,