Dean ready to embrace leadership role ahead of T20 World Cup

All-rounder Charlie Dean believes stepping into the skipper's role ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 has come at the perfect time in her career, as England look to end a 17-year wait for the trophy.

England are set to host their first Women’s T20 World Cup at home since clinching the inaugural edition way back in 2009.

With a few final tweaks and plans taking shape ahead of the event, Dean has been handed the leadership reins for their ODI series against New Zealand with regular captain Nat Sciver-Brunt sitting out as a precautionary measure.

The all-rounder, who has over 100 caps for the national side, has embraced the opportunity to lead and gain valuable experience ahead of the marquee women’s 20-over event.

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“It feels like a massive honour and it feels like really, really good, good timing for me,” Dean told Sky Sports Cricket.

“I feel like I am starting to bring a bit more confidence and assuredness about my own game.

“I am probably in the best space that I have been to be able to captain the side. It is really exciting. Obviously, missing Nat is a huge detriment to our side.”

Dean also backed Sciver-Brunt to return fully fit for the T20 World Cup, stressing that England are taking no risks with their skipper.

Just a few days ago, Sciver-Brunt’s absence from the England side for the ODIs due to a calf injury was confirmed.

“I guess having a bit of experience under my belt captaining will mean that if anything happens towards the World Cup when Nat should be perfectly ready and raring to go.

“I think it is very much precautionary and making sure that she is in the best place to really push on for that World Cup.

“It would seem silly pushing it too early and doing something worse when it feels like she’s in a good place.”

England head into the tournament carrying the disappointment of their group-stage exit at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, where fielding lapses and inconsistency under pressure proved costly.

Dean admitted England’s fielding standards in crucial moments have not matched the levels displayed in training and that proved decisive in crucial moments.

“I guess it’s easy for me to sit here and tell you how good a fielding side we are in practice," Dean noted.

“Some of the things that the girls do is impeccable and I think what it is for us is switching on under pressure and in those games things are on the line, can you execute that when it really matters?

“So having a few more fielding sessions where we’re put under a bit more pressure, maybe fielding, we have definitely fielded a lot more under lights since that World Cup.”

Despite the scrutiny around England’s fielding and fitness, Dean insisted the group remains focused on internal belief rather than outside noise.

“At the end of the day, I know that if I produce my best game, that I will be in the best place. If I don’t do that, then I need to be honest with myself and why that is and what someone else says on commentary is probably not going to help or hinder. It is the people around me whose opinions that I care most about," she added.

Dean added that England’s challenge now is to transfer their training standards into high-pressure match situations as they target a deep run at the 2026 tournament.

“But I think it is so easy to make excuses with fielding and the big moments. But if we are honest, we just need to be better," Dean said.

“What is frustrating sometimes is we are so good in practice. I think it is just that mental application on the day of a big game. The more we play in those games, the easier it’s going to get.”

England’s T20 World Cup campaign begins on June 12 against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston.

England Women's T20 World Cup squad: Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Dani Gibson, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Linsey Smith, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt-Hodge