Dom Bess still has regrets despite five-for on maiden England Test appearance in sub-continent

NICK HOWSON: The off-spinner was almost embarrassed while assessing his second international five-wicket haul after benefitting from a Sri Lankan implosion

^{(Image credit: SLC)}

Two reverse sweeps caught at slip, one snaffled at backward point, another off the ankle of Jonny Bairstow and delivery which slipped through the gate. And amid the chaos, it was a display which even a bashful Dom Bess conceded was underwhelming.

But the history books, as our memories erode and the footage becomes increasingly grainy, will tell the story of how the Devon spinner claimed 5-30 on his Test debut in Asia, in what will surely be the most fortuitous five-for taken in 2021.

It was typical of mother cricket that the returning Jack Leach, playing his first Test for 14 months, only finished with 1-55 yet possessed greater threat against the Sri Lankan right-handers.

Though perhaps that was the point. In what would be consistent with their entire performance, the hosts underestimated England's No.2 spinner and he was the beneficiary. Former captain Nasser Hussain labelled the display 'farcical' as ridiculous shot after ridiculous shot was played before they eventually fell for the lowest first innings score, 135, in Galle's 23-year Test history.

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This winter could be the making of Bess. Finally presented with pitches which suit him, success here will go a long way to establishing himself as a mainstay of this group. His rivalry - though the good friends would never call it that - with Leach starts in earnest now.

Whatever transpires over the next two months, Bess will return home with at least one fond memory. "I haven't bowled as much I would have liked to," he unsurprisingly admitted, given England's truncated build-up. "But that's cricket at the end of the day. I know I haven't bowled as well as I could have done and got away with one or two.

"I've also bowled on days and haven't taken any poles and had dropped catches.

"At the end of the day that is how it has turned out. I am the fortunate one to take five wickets. I have to put that aside."

While it would perhaps be unfair to suggest Bess performed badly outside of his five wickets, it is worth highlighting the manner of his scalps. Sri Lanka coach Micky Arthur may well be asking just why Kusal Perera and Hasaranga da Silva opted for reverse sweeps rather than anything remotely conventional when their team was under the cosh.

^{England celebrate another Sri Lanka wicket - a regular sight on day one (Image credit: SLC)}

Dismissals like the one when saw Dasun Shanaka's 23-run stand ended only occur on days such as these and was a reward for England's desire to keep the pressure on as much as anything. But Bairstow's bravery and Jos Buttler's alertness should not go forgotten.

Dilruwan Perera was done by a conventional off-spinner which should have been fended away but instead produced a strange poke. The worst came in between from Niroshan Dickwella, who slashed one to Dom Sibley without a care in the world.

"There was one pretty bad ball in there," the Yorkshire new boy admitted. "I feel like if a seamer bowls a wide half-volley and they get nicked it's a wicket at the end of the day. It's not my best wicket. You're going to bowl good balls and they're going to go out of the park or get dropped so you've got to take it when it comes.

"There are going to be days either here or in India where I'm going to bowl 10 times better and not take any poles. It is about the outcome and how people look at it. I've taken five wickets for England no one can take that away from me. 

"It was bizarre. Things happen in the sub-continent. You take that sweep shot, I'm fortunate with that as well."