Charlie Dean: Second in the world is pretty cool

The England spinner, who currently sits second in the ICC's women's T20I bowling rankings but believes her teammates are central to her success, is the latest guest on the Under The Lid - Inside Pro Cricket podcast

Elizabeth Botcherby | 18/04/2024 at 09:18

Charlie Dean has delivered a modest assessment of her T20 credentials, stating she doesn't consider herself to be among the best in the world.

Appearing on episode three of the Under The Lid – Inside Pro Cricket podcast presented by Jack Brooks and Katherine Sciver-Brunt, Dean admitted it is "pretty cool" to be ranked second in the world in the ICC's women's T20I bowling rankings.

However, the 23-year-old played down her achievements, instead crediting her fellow bowlers with laying the foundations for her wickets.

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^{Dean is ranked second in the world in the ICC's women's T20I bowling rankings [Marco Longari/Getty Images]}

Dean, who made her debut in the format in January 2022, has taken 28 wickets with an economy of 6.59 in 22 T20Is.

"If you look at the best bowlers in T20, I don't think I'd put myself there," she said.

"I don't know whether that's just me being critical of myself, but I don't think I'd be in the position or taking the wickets that I would without the teammates and bowlers that I have around me. People like [Sciver-Brunt] a year ago, Belly [Lauren Bell] opening the bowling, Eccles [Sophie Ecclestone] at the other end, Glenny [Sarah Glenn].

"Those bowlers being so economical allows me as an off-spinner to take the wickets I do which gets me those stats. If I was on another team, I don’t think I'd have the stats I do.

"Second in the world is pretty cool, but I don't think I'm quite ready for No.1. Eccles can have that."

The Under The Lid podcast, a collaboration between The Cricketer and the PCA, aims to highlight the realities of being a professional player with weekly episodes featuring personalities from across the circuit.

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