As the women’s cricketing summer in England builds to its crescendo, all eyes turn to the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street on July 22, 2025, where England and India will square off for a series-defining third ODI. For England’s dynamic bowling all-rounder Charlotte Dean, the pre-match press conference was more than routine; it became a window into the mindset of a young player shouldering big dreams and even bigger responsibilities.
The current India tour of England has already rewritten history. India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, clinched their first-ever T20I series win on English soil in a thrilling 3–2 contest, showcasing both their skill and nerve under English skies. England, steered by the ever-composed Nat Sciver-Brunt, regrouped swiftly: after losing the opening ODI in a tight chase, they triumphed emphatically in a rain-curtailed second ODI, setting the stage for an all-or-nothing series decider.
For Charlotte Dean, who is 24, the significance of the previous result was hard to overstate. “I think it was massive,” Dean remarked. “We talk about going game by game, but being able to give ourselves an opportunity to win the series in Durham is massive for us, especially leading into the World Cup.”
Her words reflect a squad acutely aware of context, each match not just a contest, but a building block for larger glory. “Durham is just 12 miles away from the sun shining at the moment, so fingers crossed,” she smiled, seeking a change in England’s weather luck while underlining the crucial momentum a series win could provide ahead of the year-end World Cup.
Dean was candid about England’s evolving relationship with high-stakes scenarios, an aspect that often emerges in tournaments but now is being confronted in bilateral series like this. “Whenever we can challenge ourselves in pressure situations, we’re only going to benefit from it,” she explained. “You always want to be on top, but that’s not always realistic. Games are closer now, so time spent in those moments only makes us stronger.”
England’s last-gasp victory at Lord’s in the second ODI was not merely a test of talent, but also temperament as rain delays threatened to disrupt rhythm and plans. Dean praised her teammates’ adaptability: “The way the girls went about their business and switched on really quickly, it was a decadent threat.”
No encounter between England and India at Lord’s can escape the shadow of the 2022 ‘Mankad’ drama. Dean, run out at the non-striker’s end by Deepti Sharma, was asked with a knowing smile whether she’d moved on. “We all had a bit of a giggle in the changing rooms before the game,” Dean said, acknowledging the moment’s weight with refreshing levity. “I’ve played with Deepti now and against her for a couple of years; it’s all under the bridge really, though it was quite a spectacle at the time.”
With India’s spin arsenal repeatedly outfoxing English batters this tour, discussion naturally turned to the ever-evolving art of spin bowling. Dean is reflective yet pragmatic: “We’re all very different bowlers. As English spinners, we bowl with a bit more pace that sometimes means the ball races to the boundary, but it’s what we need to do on our wickets.” She was quick to praise India’s discipline, notably Deepti Sharma’s steadfastness and variations: “That builds pressure and creates wickets in itself. It’s definitely something we can learn from.”
Yet she is also wary of comparisons. “We try and stay away from it too much; you might get a bit lost. But definitely learning from how disciplined they’ve been with providing very few ‘four’ balls, that’s something we need to bring to our game.”
For Dean, adaptability across formats has been a focus. “Adapting between T20 and ODIs is important. In T20s, it’s about accuracy; in ODIs, you can try setting up batters. I feel like I’m in a really good spot, even if it’s not reflected in every match. It’s about backing your skill, whatever the situation.”
That sense of self-assurance is new but growing. “I probably haven’t had it for a while in my international career, but I really feel confident, which is a nice place to be,” she admitted.
Dean reserved special appreciation for England’s head coach, Charlotte Edwards. “What I love about Lottie is her consistency. The difference between us winning and losing a game reflects very similarly, and that’s what good coaches do.” The result? A culture where learning from mistakes is prioritised over obsessing about immediate results, vital, especially with the World Cup looming.
Dean nails the mood in the camp successfully: opportunity, not anxiety, is the prevailing emotion. “Any chance we can emulate pressure moments in a decider is perfect practice,” she asserted. “Even if we don’t win, as long as we learn and keep getting better, we’ll be set up for a strong competition year.”
As the series hurtles toward its finale at the Riverside, both teams know what’s at stake. For Dean and England, a win would mean more than just a series victory: it would help bury recent disappointments, provide priceless rehearsal for World Cup crunch moments, and infuse the squad with the belief that tough times can be formative, not destructive.
In Dean’s own words, “To pull that off would be really special. It would give the girls a lot of confidence going to India, playing some of the best teams. So yeah, really looking forward to the challenge tomorrow.”
Expect the decider in Durham not just to test skills, but to illuminate the evolving character of this England side, one that’s learning quickly, thinking deeply, and daring to believe in big moments. And in Charlotte Dean, England has an all-rounder whose personal and professional growth may mirror the very journey her team hopes to make: from resilience and reflection to readiness for the biggest stage of all.
I’m a Senior Masters student pursuing Journalism and Mass Communication. An all time Cricket enthusiast. I could never play the game but always loved watching it, and now writing about it!