Bouncing back from the ‘tough pill to swallow’ of being dropped

Peaks and troughs in form are par for the course for any sportsperson, something England bowler Dom Bess now knows all too well, writes Ben Burrows

England bowlers James Anderson and Dom Bess (AP)

"It was certainly a tough pill to swallow. I didn't see it round the corner."

High end sport isn't for the faint-hearted, something England bowler Dom Bess now knows all too well.

Despite taking 17 wickets in the first three matches of the winter on the sub-continent, the Yorkshire off-spinner saw himself replaced for the now infamous two-day defeat in Ahmedabad last week, paying the price for a bad few days at the office in the second Test in Chennai a week previous.

Peaks and troughs in form are par for the course for any spin bowler, even for one as relatively new to the international game as Bess.

After missing out last week as England gambled - and lost - with pace over turn, Bess is set to return for the fourth and final match of the series beginning at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday.

No player likes to be dropped of course, but Bess is already wise enough to know that sometimes the best way to prepare to be part of the side is to be left out of it.

"Personally, I didn't think I needed it but, as time went on, it was probably the best option. I do think a lot about the game. I'm always trying to get better, whether thinking about it or doing it physically," he said on the eve of the match.

"So the hardest part for me was getting away from it and I guess the management did it for me. It has freshened me up, I've thought about things and then had time to work on it.

"Hopefully I'll look back over the period and think it's actually been a real success heading into this last game. Now, for six or 12 months time... I was happy, probably, with that little break."

Bess is known for his robust self-belief and despite his second Test struggles is confident he can repay the faith of the selectors if called upon again this time.

Indeed he knows that both he and his teammates will need all they can as they look to rescue a draw in the series having once upon a time been 1-0 up.

"It's a massive honour to play for your country. I'll always give my all," he added. "I'm in a great space right now to come back in. We're under a bit of pressure, but it's a great opportunity to perform. I know I'm ready. It's very exciting if I get the chance to head out with 10 other blokes to try to draw the series.

The playing surface in Ahmedabad has been a significant talking point with wear, tear, turn and bounce evident from the very first session in the last Test.

Bess admits it was difficult to be forced to watch on from the sidelines when conditions would've surely played into his hands, and is eager to make up for lost time now.

"It's been tough to watch these last two games as it's been spinning," he added. "There's always going to be pressure, but I'd rather be bowling on spinning wickets than green ones at Trent Bridge, or somewhere."

Both him and England will be hoping he can help turn the tide this week.