SOMERSET academy youngster Dom Bess is off shortly to spend the winter out in Australia where he will be attending the Darren Lehmann Academy in Adelaide.

The off-spinner, who is 18 years old, hails from Sidmouth and has played his club cricket for Exeter this season.

Dom has been part of the Somerset Academy for the last three years and has been recommended by the County for an ECB Scholarship to spend the next six months in Australia where in addition to attending the high profile Lehmann Academy he will also be playing Grade cricket for a local club.

Bess said: “I’m heading out to Adelaide in early October where I will be spending the next six months.

“Matt recommended me to the ECB and I will be going out there with a couple of other English lads on a scholarship.

“I will be assigned to a club where I will be playing cricket, but at present I don’t know where that is.

“The chance to play out in Australia for the winter is fantastic and will be a great experience.

“When I come back I plan to carry on with what I have been doing for the last couple of years and develop my skills.

“I cannot wait because it is a great opportunity for me to go to a different country and play in very different conditions.

“To play cricket for six out of seven days a week for the time I am out there will be great for me and my cricket.”

“When I am out there it will be great to meet new people and face different bowlers in the conditions.”

Academy director Steve Snell said: “We believe that Dom is going to be a good spin bowler in the future and the ECB have awarded him a scholarship.

“We are delighted that he is going to go to Adelaide and follow in the footsteps of several others like Adam Hose and Max Waller.

“It will be a great experience for Dom and provide him with a structure for his winter training, he leaves in early October and comes back here in March.”