Dean Down Under: Charlie chasing challenges in WBBL stint

Charlie Dean remembers being at Lord's as a 16-year-old when England won their last women's World Cup.

It was July 23, 2017, when the then-Hampshire product was sitting in the stands, watching on in awe of the team she would end up playing in four years later.

Just two weeks earlier, Dean had been a net bowler ahead of the nation's group fixture against Australia in Bristol.

She'd remarkably made her county debut the season prior, but recalls feeling a little out of her depth amongst some of the world's best cricketers.

"I was bowling and thinking, 'Oh my gosh!'," Dean recalled in Melbourne this week. "The ball was coming back out of the net so hard and I was like, 'Okay, there's a long way to go to bridge that gap'.

"The home World Cup felt like a huge moment for English cricket and English sport. I was there and loved watching women be able to play and in front of huge crowds, and I guess that was probably the catalyst for really wanting to push on."

Ever since that famous day in London, the off-spinner has experienced a rapid rise through the ranks of English cricket.

After making her international debut at 20, Dean earned caps in all three formats by 21 before she was named vice-captain of the national side when she was 24.

Now 25, and nine years on from seeing her idols lift that coveted ODI trophy, Dean's led the country in a World Cup of her own.

"I kind of rose a bit quickly and played for England maybe a month after I got my first professional contract which all felt very quick," Dean said.

"I've loved it ever since and I'm trying to just get better every day and and learn how to play against the best. More recently I've come into leadership positions as probably one of the younger leaders, but I think I've always just really enjoyed cricket.

"I love watching it. I love picking up things that are happening in the games and that's I guess a bit of fun for me.

"I've definitely enjoyed stepping up into captaincy and growing in confidence as I do that. All the off-field bits are probably the harder bits for me as maybe I'm more of an introverted player, but I'm slowly growing into that and really enjoying the opportunities that it's giving me." 

Taking the reins from an injured Natalie Sciver-Brunt, the prodigious talent has been England's stand-in skipper 15 times this year, including in three T20 World Cup fixtures on home soil in June.

It's an honour not lost on a cricket tragic that grew up idolising two of her nation's finest leaders, who have both turned into significant mentors for Dean.

"Charlotte Edwards was probably a big one," she said. "Having played with her when I was 16 at Hampshire and having watched her growing up playing for England women, being the immense captain, leader and winner that she was.

"The way that she's transitioned from being a player and captain and into coaching... I guess she's probably one of the biggest role models for my age group.

"Then getting to know Heather (Knight) and her being a teammate of mine, there's so much to admire about the way she goes about things."

Dean has been to Australia previously for two Ashes tours, but she's returned in different circumstances to end a busy 2026.

For the first time in her career, she's playing in the Big Bash having been recruited by Melbourne Stars ahead of WBBL|12.

It's a competition the club's new recruit is eager to make an impression on, considering her record on these shores.

Dean has gone winless in all of the 10 matches she's played in Australia across every format, having featured in the 2022 Ashes series that ended 12-4 in Australia's favour, with England's only points coming from two washed out T20Is and a drawn Test, and on the infamous 2025 tour that the hosts swept 16-0. 

Now, Dean is hoping her fortunes will change when she represents the team in green.

"Having played out here a little bit I maybe know what to expect a bit more than just coming in blind," Dean said.

"I'm looking forward to having a home ground and feeling that energy from the crowd the other way round, which I've not felt previously.

"I'll hopefully be bowling in all sorts of phases which is a bit daunting but also really exciting.

"Bowling a bit in the Powerplay maybe and throughout the middle. I just want to contribute to hopefully some match-winning performances for this team, and whether that's with the ball or or maybe with bat in the lower order, we'll see what's to come."

Dean won't be leading the Stars, but she's determined to learn from the iconic figure that is. Former Australia captain Meg Lanning is back in charge of the side this season, and Dean is eager to develop her own leadership by learning from one of the sport's most respected figures.

"She's one of the most decorated captains in world cricket, so it presents a really exciting opportunity," Dean said.

"I think even just listening to her yesterday in the nets talking about batting... I was sort of earwigging.

"You can lead in other ways when you're not captain via attitude and behaviours, so hopefully I can do that. But I'm excited to be a bit of a observer, absorbing everything that I can."

Dean is aware of the Stars' history across both men's and women's competitions, where neither team has lifted the trophy.

Like her teammates, she's after team success over any personal accolades in this latest chapter of her cricket tenure.

It's a journey that her father Steven, who played two decades of county cricket for Staffordshire, holds very dear to him.

Although he won't be in Australia for WBBL|12, he and the family will be keeping a close eye on her games from the UK.

"Making a living doing what I enjoy (means) they're super proud," said Dean.

"I love all my family back at home, so I guess these night games make it a lot easier for them to watch as well which is ideal.

"I reckon we've even got one day game, and I'm sure my dad will be up in the early hours to watch that as well.

"Every moment that I play, I'm always trying to connect and think back to why we do this.

"There can be some ups and downs in the game, but I'm really grateful to be where I am and that's because of everything that they've done for me."

As she prepares for her first Big Bash, Dean feels like she's starting to appreciate just how special the last few years have been.

England's young gun is embracing her status in the game while staying grounded in what truly matters.

"It's all happened quite quickly, but I think I'm slowly taking it in," Dean said.

"I'm starting to believe that I can compete with everyone else on the international stage.

"In the past couple of years, I've really connected with how much I love the game every time I step out on the field. No matter how well or badly it might go, I can still come back to that."