England bowler, Charlie Dean, spoke to the media ahead of England’s second IT20 against New Zealand. The talk of the England camp this morning focused on the Hundred draft which happened overnight on Kiwi time – evening in the UK.
The Hundred Draft
One of the headlines was Amy Jones being selected first in the top bracket by Birmingham Phoenix who had not retained her initially.
“It was interesting to wake up this morning and just be scrolling through on the phone,” Dean said. “I think a couple of the girls woke up early to watch. I know Amy [Jones] did. I think she was a little surprised about being first, heading back to Birmingham, but I think she's super stoked about it.”
“It's exciting. I guess as [London] Spirit, we've got Meg Lanning, a hugely experienced player. That's someone really valuable to have in our side, so I'm looking forward to picking her brains a little bit.” She added.
England seamer, Lauren Filer, made the move to the Manchester Originals after previously featuring for Welsh Fire and London Spirit. Dean – who was once again retained by London Spirit – has spent a few seasons bowling with Filer during the Hundred but she was quick to praise her success.
“I think she put herself out there, decided to go in the draft and it was the best thing for her. She's such a commodity, I guess as a as a quick, fast bowler, she's super exciting. She definitely deserves every opportunity that that she gets.” Dean said.
The Development of Franchise Cricket
Franchise cricket has drastically expanded in the women’s game with the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) being the trailblazer in 2015. Since then, the Hundred, Women’s Premier League and Caribbean Premier League have all emerged as competition for the world’s best to inspire, often earning significant contracts.
“As the second season of the WPL concludes I think a lot of reflections from the girls was that the standards have improved massively even from the first year. The domestic girls out in India are really sharing what they can do and that's super exciting for the trajectory of women's cricket,” Dean explained.
“I think the more that we can get domestic standards matching, competing with international standards, the more exciting cricket's going to get. I guess the Hundred now going into its fourth year and it's really starting to get on board with that.”
“I suppose with the draft that just came out, Grace Scrivens getting for 40K was probably something that maybe people wouldn't have expected, but she's definitely a valuable player to have in a side and she deserves that and I guess I guess that's sort of testament to where women's cricket's getting worldwide.”
“We're not just looking at international players now it's everyone and that's super exciting because if the depth of talent is getting better with all these domestic competitions, then there's only one way that women's cricket can go,” she added.
Success in New Zealand
England registered a 27-run victory over New Zealand in the first T20 in Dunedin with Charlie Dean’s economical bowling playing a crucial part. “It was obviously a great performance the other day,” Dean said.
“Felt like we did well to get a such a big total on more of a tricky wicket than we thought but our bowlers did really well to keep the run rate and sort of seal the game.”
“I think it's great to see Maia Bouchier, really getting decent time in the middle of the other day and cashing in on her opportunity.”
Looking ahead to the second T20, New Zealand will perhaps be a stronger item, Dean acknowledging this. “With Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine coming back into the team, we know that it could be a potentially a bit of more of a stronger New Zealand XI coming up, but I guess we just take a lot of confidence from our performance the other day.”
“I guess just looking to take all the positive things that that you know we got from a couple of days ago. Nothing much changes in terms of our philosophy and how we're looking to play the game. Hopefully we can just have a repeat performance and keep being clinical.”
Bowling ambitions
Debuting for England at the end of the 2021 English summer, Charlie Dean has developed her bowling to become economical and consistent. Dean spoke about her perspective on her bowling and where she sees herself progressing.
“Wickets is always something that you're looking to get but equally containing and going under a run-a-ball is a win as well I guess. Fairly happy with how it's coming out, I feel like we've had some really good prep time out here in New Zealand and starting to feel it, which is just perfect for us”
“I guess for me trying to repeat my stock ball as much as possible. I suppose in more subcontinent conditions, I don't need to mix it up too much and I think sometimes I get drawn into trying to bowl every ball under the sun rather than my best ball,” Dean added.
“My mixing of pace is and how I read the game, that's how I want to move forward and keeping things simple and not putting too much pressure on myself, it's probably how I get the best out of myself. Understanding my role, with Eccles [Sophie Ecclestone] coming back in, in the next couple of games and things like that so I'm super excited for the summer coming up well this series first and foremost, but the summer coming up and then into the World Cup.”
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