Dom Bess relaxed and ready to make history for England against Pakistan

Dom Bess is on the brink of becoming the youngest finger spinner to make his Test debut for England but there appear to be few nerves leading up to this particular slice of history.

The Somerset academy product is just 16 first-class matches into his career and should he win a first cap against Pakistan on Thursday, he will do so at 81 days younger than Derek Underwood when his bow came against West Indies at Trent Bridge in 1966 aged 21 years and 22 days.

Does he feel ready? “Of course I do!” came the quickfire reply from a smiling Bess ahead of his second day of training with Joe Root’s Test side, as he leaned back in his chair in the press conference room at Lord’s with an arm draped over the backrest. The right-armer, who has shot to prominence at Taunton with his 63 wickets coming at 22 apiece, looked very much at home in these surroundings despite it being just his second time in NW8, the first having come as a 12th man last year with Somerset.

“I enjoyed the lunches,” replied Bess when probed about this past experience. “Me and Roelof van der Merwe were tucking in. I put on a bit [of weight] those few days. It was my first time properly up in London so I was a bit of a tourist as well. I’ve never been to the home dressing room, so to have a look at the honours board this week was very special. I hope one day I can get my name up there.”

And what will he be thinking at the top of his mark, should he get the nod? “Wickets! I am an attacking off-spinner. I get very competitive which is a trait of mine but it depends on the role and the situation. But you are always looking for wickets aren’t you?”

For all Bess’s confidence, who also issued a plea for Ikea to get in touch with after his call-up interrupted a spot of sofa shopping with his girlfriend last week, there was an acknowledgement that this chance has come via the misfortune of a county colleague, even if he believes “everything happens for a reason”. Jack Leach was due to resume his place after making his debut during the New Zealand tour but a broken thumb has put a second cap on hold. Bess has sought his close friend’s advice on what to expect, as well as that of Craig Overton following his own debut during the Ashes.

Bess said: “Jack absolutely loved it, and I saw when he came back – him and Craig Overton – that when you get a taste of it, you want it even more. And as soon as I’ve been here now, I want it. I want it more and more. I think that’s a very good trait to have. We are at Lord’s, hopefully going to make my debut. You’ve just got to enjoy it haven’t you?”

While England look to the future with Bess, Pakistan were happy to discuss their recent past with their head coach, Mickey Arthur, talking up the qualities of Mohammad Amir and discussing a plan to replicate the impact of another left-armer in Trent Boult. The New Zealander’s career-best six for 32 in Auckland rolled Root’s tourists for a paltry 58 two months ago and Amir, seemingly fit again as he manages a chronic knee problem that flared up against Ireland, is looking to adopt a similar approach to his fellow southpaw.

Arthur said: “I think Mohammad Amir is the finest exponent of pace and swing when he gets it 100% right. We’ve used that spell that Boult bowled in Auckland and the lengths he bowled. We believe Amir bowls incredibly well at left-handers and there will be three [Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman and Dawid Malan] in their top four.”