The allrounder picked up 3 for 22 against West Indies in her first proper T20I outing for England (her debut was rained off) and is determined to make up for the disappointment of the home summer by earning a spot on the plane to South Africa
Charlie Dean believes she is "good enough" to break into England's XI in time for the 2023 T20 World Cup, which gets underway in South Africa on February 10.
The 21-year-old allrounder has established herself as a mainstay of England's ODI squad over the past 15 months, scoring 191 runs and taking 39 wickets in 22 outings and featuring at the 2022 Women's World Cup, but hasn't enjoyed the same level of success in T20Is.
Her debut against Australia back in January was rained off after just 4.1 overs and she was "disappointed" to miss out on both the Commonwealth Games and England's home series against South Africa and India during the summer.
However, in her first proper outing for England in a T20I, Dean made an immediate impression, removing Hayley Matthews, Kycia Knight and Rashada Williams on her way to figures of 3 for 22, and now has renewed optimism in her quest to secure a spot on the plane to South Africa despite the wealth of spin-bowling talent ahead of her in the pecking order.
"I guess with Eccles [Sophie Ecclestone] and Sarah Glenn as No.1 and 2 bowlers in the ICC rankings, it's hard to break in as a spinner but I think any opportunity I get, I want to take with both hands," Dean said. "I believe I could be good enough to be in the XI but I've got two really great performers in front of me and I guess that's my next challenge.
Dean in action during the second T20I in Bridgetown [CWI Media]
"Sitting out in the summer, I think I took it quite hard, with the Commonwealth [Games] and all the exciting opportunities the girls had. I was pretty disappointed not to be in and around that so it's exciting to be back in the squad. Whether I get one game or I play the next three I think being involved and potentially going to another World Cup is something that really excites me.
"[The World Cup] has always been the goal. When I got into the T20 squad again this time round, I'm feeling a lot more optimistic about making that squad for the World Cup. The ODI World Cup [was] a really great even and to be involved with something like that is really exciting. It's something I definitely want to do."
Dean credits the experiences she has gained both on the ODI stage and in The Hundred with helping her hit the ground running in the second T20I in Bridgetown but in order to nail down a spot in the XI, she needs to showcase her all-round credentials.
"With the ball, trying to put myself forward as a powerplay bowler – that adds an extra string to my bow," she said, when asked where she needs to improve.
"With the bat, trying to push my case forward as an allrounder. I've got a long way to go but I'd love to start putting in performances with the bat and taking those positive options and looking to score as much as I can. That's something I want to do in the future.
Dean is keen to prove herself with the bat [Hannah Peters/Getty Images]
"My technique isn't perfect but it's just building on smaller things, trying to get my trigger timing right in all formats, trying to get my weight into the ball, simple things that really make the big differences."
It's all a far cry from September, when Dean found herself at the centre of an internet storm following her dismissal at the non-striker's end in the third ODI against India at Lord's. The incident triggered "quite a few emotions" but she was grateful to be back in action the following day in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final.
She and her England teammates have now "put it to bed" and she is focused on "making a name myself" for her on-field performances and nothing else, something which will start with embracing the "positive, entertaining and inspirational cricket" championed by new head coach, Jon Lewis.
"We're taking it game by game, trying to play really positive and inspiring cricket, and if that means we win all the games, then that's brilliant. That's the message we want to send," Dean said, looking ahead to the remaining matches against West Indies.
"We're trying to play fearless cricket and it's come off the majority [of the time]. That's really exciting [and] looking towards the World Cup, it's the brand of cricket we want to play. That's what we're all buying into and those small changes in attitude make a big difference."
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