T20 World Cup: Charlie Dean’s journey from Lord’s tears to England’s stand-in captain

Born within the Midlands – her soccer staff is Derby County – Dean discovered Cricket at Havant Cricket Membership in Hampshire, the place her father Steven performed after a fantastic Minor Counties profession via the Eighties and 90s.

Windsor, three years older, coached Dean in junior cricket earlier than they progressed via the Havant boys’ sides and into the Hampshire and Southern Vipers first XIs.

“There are cricket badgers that love watching the sport who vocalise about it. She is a silent badger,” Windsor says. “She watches loads of cricket however not in your face.”

An England age-group common, Dean made her county debut for Hampshire aged 15, the place her first seasons crossed over with the ultimate years of England coach Charlotte Edwards’ illustrious taking part in profession.

“The factor that stands her in such good stead is she reads cricket rather well,” added Windsor.

“That’s the reason we see her as a pacesetter now. She all the time appeared to be cricket-smart.”

Dean and Edwards first met when Dean was a “very shy” 10-year-old however when she made her England debut in 2021, it was Edwards, by then Vipers coach, who was invited to current the 20-year-old together with her first cap.

Such a fast ascent denied Dean, now the teenager of the groups, the prospect to captain sides, as she had completed coming via the Hampshire and England academy ranks.

Earlier than this summer time her solely actual expertise in cost was two seasons in The Hundred with London Spirit, when an damage dominated out former England captain Heather Knight. She was most well-liked over Australia’s Beth Mooney and present New Zealand skipper Melie Kerr – two way more skilled gamers.

“My sense was Charlie was effectively revered throughout the group,” says Trevor Griffin, then Spirit’s coach. “She had a connection.

“It was all the time going to be a step up however the primary factor for me was the curiosity she has across the recreation, she understood the best way to play it, she understood the format and the connection throughout the taking part in group.”