DOM Bess says Yorkshire are a completely different side in the Vitality Blast this season to how they were when he was on loan with the county in 2019.

Off-spinner Bess has contributed to the Vikings’ excellent start to the ongoing North Group campaign, with them winning four of their first six games to top the table.

Bess has claimed five wickets in two games following England Test duty against Worcestershire at New Road last Wednesday (2-30) and Derbyshire at Emerald Headingley on Sunday (3-21).

The first was an equal career best and the second standalone career best figures. More importantly, both came in victories.

Yorkshire are back in action today when they face Worcestershire at Headingley (6.30pm) in their seventh match, marking the halfway point in the group.

Another win would ensure the Vikings take a significant step towards a top four finish in the group for a quarter-final place.

Their performances so far are in stark contrast to previous seasons when they have always struggled for momentum. For, example, quarter-final qualification this summer would be their first since 2016.

Bess got a brief snapshot of that frustration when on loan from Somerset in 2019, with the Vikings only winning one of his six games.

“I have certainly seen a difference to now from when I came in two years ago,” he said. “You can see lads going through the gears.

“Someone like Harry Brook is striking it beautifully. Jordan Thompson with the bat at the end on Sunday, Matthew Waite striking it from ball one.

“People have got confidence, and that is so, so important.

“Even when games are tricky, we’re finding a way.

“The really important thing now is rolling this momentum.

“I know Derby had a couple of injuries, so Worcester will be a bit stronger.

“They’re not going to have Moeen Ali, but they are still a quality side.

“But I just like the way we’re playing our cricket.”

Tonight is set to be only the 11th T20 game of Bess’s career compared to 59 first-class appearances, including 14 Test matches for England.

Despite that lack of first-team T20 experience, he has played 24 second-team games for Somerset and Yorkshire, helping to forge a confidence in his short form game plan.

“I know my strengths,” he said. "I’ve bowled in the power play. But when you’ve got Joe Root, he can do that job and allow me to bowl four overs in the middle.

“I’d like to think I’m quite an intelligent cricketer who reads the game. I do my homework. That’s really important.

“But, with T20 cricket, you have to take it with a pinch of salt.

“With how the game goes, there’s a lot of luck with it.

“I always think about calculated risk - where do I want people hitting me? I think with that side of things, I’m quite intelligent.

“When I’m out there, I’m trying to put it in my favour. Some days, it won’t go in your favour. Sunday was my day.”

Bess has had a very productive first full season as a Yorkshire player.

Prior to T20, he claimed 14 wickets in eight Championship games, including match-clinching hauls of 6-53 and 4-51 in both meetings with Sussex.

“The thing that screams out to me is the opportunity I’ve been given,” he added. “That’s all I wanted at Somerset, and it didn’t happen much.

“At times, I felt a little bit stuck and I couldn’t express myself.

“Up here, I’m obviously the first spinner in the red ball stuff, and I’m playing in the T20 now.

“That’s all I’ve ever wanted, the chance to play, because I’m a fairly confident person and do back myself.”

Worcestershire, champions in 2018, have made a middling start to their Blast campaign, and as Bess says, they will be without key all-rounder Moeen Ali this evening because of England duty.

Yorkshire won by 94 runs at New Road last Wednesday on the back of a scintillating century from Jonny Bairstow.

Jonny Tattersall returns to the squad for this evening's game, having had a successful loan spell with Gloucestershire earlier in the month, scoring two first-class fifties in two games.

14-MAN SQUAD TO TAKE ON WORCESTERSHIRE RAPIDS:

Gary Ballance

Dominic Bess

Harry Brook

Lockie Ferguson

Will Fraine

Matthew Fisher

Tom Kohler-Cadmore

Dominic Leech

Adam Lyth

Josh Poysden

Joe Root (captain)

Jonny Tattersall

Jordan Thompson

Matthew Waite