Dom Bess signs one-month loan deal with Yorkshire

Bess will play a maximum of four County Championship matches for Yorkshire. © Getty

Somerset off-spinner Dom Bess will join Yorkshire on a one-month loan deal. The 21 year-old will play a maximum of four County Championship matches for the northern county as he bids to get some regular game-time after a frustrating start to the season.

Bess has played just two 50-over matches in Somerset's first-team this term and in the presence of Jack Leach, the club's number one spinner in red-ball cricket, further opportunities over the next block of Championship games were likely to be limited.

"Due to limited opportunities thus far for Dom within the County Championship, alongside his desire to play First XI cricket, he will be joining Yorkshire for a month with our full backing," Somerset CCC Director of Cricket, Andy Hurry, said.

"It's important to us as a Club to ensure that we are providing opportunities that support the needs of our player's development and the Club's mid-term needs. This opportunity provides Dom and us with exactly that."

Bess is highly regarded by England and he played two Tests against Pakistan last summer although he impressed more with the bat than the ball then. However, he has since been overtaken in the Test pecking order by Adil Rashid, Leach and Moeen Ali and Bess knows he needs regular bowling to continue his development.

He will get that at Yorkshire who will be without Rashid for the next month with the leg-spinner a key part of England's World Cup squad. Josh Poysden, another leg-spinner, was signed from Warwickshire during the off-season but missed out on selection for both Yorkshire's early season Championship matches and is seen as more of a white-ball specialist.

Yorkshire's Director of Cricket Martyn Moxon said: "When Dom became available, we thought that it would be advantageous for us. It helps the balance of the team as he can bat as well as bowl his off-spin. Dom is a highly talented young cricketer who clearly needs to be playing first team cricket. At Somerset, Dom isn't getting the opportunity with Jack Leach playing, so we feel that it is the right time to loan him.

"Our senior spinner in Josh Poysden hasn't played any red ball cricket yet this season. James Logan is currently injured, and Karl Carver hasn't had much opportunity in red ball cricket so far. Given the circumstances, we felt that it would be a good move for us. This is for a month initially. There is an opportunity now for the spinners on the staff to play in the Second XI and hopefully put in some good performances to warrant selection before we assess the situation in a month's time."

If Bess' situation continues at Somerset and the club cannot provide both him and Leach with enough playing time, a permanent move could be on the cards although Somerset are keen not to lose such a talented prospect.

Bess said: "We all agree that I need to be playing First XI cricket. Opportunities are limited here at the moment, so I went on the loan list. It's in the best interests of myself and the Club that I'm playing First XI cricket, and this is a big opportunity. It's a different environment and hopefully I can come back with a lot of confidence and help to win some games for Somerset."