ICC Women’s World Cup T20: Charlie Dean believes England can beat anyone, but how is the team handling the pressure ahead of the tournament? | Cricket news
Charlie Dean believes England can beat the best teams in the world, as the stand-in captain explains how his side are dealing with the pressure of trying to win the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at home.
The hosts are one of the favorites and are yet to end their 17-year wait to win the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, as they prepare to face Sri Lanka in their opening game on Friday June 12 – which will be played. can be streamed for FREE via the Sky Sports App – but dangerous opponents stand in their way.
On Monday, England lost by five wickets in Cardiff to one of Australia’s most threatening teams, with England’s top batsmen struggling to score runs against the onslaught of Sophie Molineux’s side.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones and the captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt, who was making his long-awaited return to action following a two-month layoff, were all dismissed in five overs for 19 runs.
Alice Capsey also impressed with the batting, making 45 off 36 balls to lift England to 157-6. But Australia chased down that total comfortably in 18.2 overs, with Ellyse Perry scoring 64 runs off 44 balls.
Despite the pressure on Dean’s side to perform in front of home fans this summer, the stand-in captain said England are trying to remove the ‘intimidating elements’ that can come with trying to win the World Cup at home.
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Watch the best shots from Alice Capsey’s innings against Australia in a world cup warm-up match in Cardiff.
“I think it’s important that we talk about pressure,” Dean told Sky Sports, ahead of England’s final warm-up game against India.
“We know that eyes are on us and people want us to do well, we know that if we are on our day and we do well we can beat anyone.
“It approaches that as a team, and presents it as an exciting opportunity, which it is.
“Getting away from the horrors it can bring, but also acknowledging that we’re all human and we’re probably all going to feel those pressures.
“You can’t be brave without fear. And we can be open and honest with each other to help each other in those times.”
While the prospect of being able to open up women’s cricket to a new audience with the World Cup is exciting, Dean added that England are looking forward to competing against some of the toughest opponents in the world.
But the standing captain admits that his team will have to be in top form to defeat the likes of Australia and South Africa.
“As cricketers, we are challenged in every game we play, which is a very exciting place to be,” said Dean.
“There is no team that has not been able to win a certain game, I think maybe that is the nature of T20.
“It looks like we’re going to have to be on our A-game in every group stage, and I’m excited to see how the team fares in those pressure situations.
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Nat Sciver-Brunt is looking forward to England’s World Cup warm-up against Australia where he will enter the field.
“We talked a lot about it, you know we want to do well when we are under the pump, and when the eyes are on us, and I feel like we are getting to the point where we are learning how to do that.
“I’m glad to see, you know, if we can, we can stand up when it’s important, because I really believe that our team.”
Hussain: Strong people, like Dean, stand up in difficult situations
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The England captain led by example, delivering a superb ball that saw Smriti Mandhana dismissed after a failed review from India.
Nasser Hussain believes that England can handle the pressure of the World Cup at home by showing themselves.
He also added that if the situation becomes difficult, they can look to ‘strong characters’ like Dean, who can lead them.
“Well, it’s the first measure of not making it too important when you know it’s too important,” said Sky Sports’ Hussain.
“I don’t speak as an expert and I can only talk about the big games I’ve played in. But in a World Cup semi-final, Eoin Morgan wasn’t standing here or Heather Knight, saying: ‘This is the most important day of your life. Do you know how important this is? You’re going to be inspiring a generation?’
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Highlights of the third T20 between England and India at Taunton.
“That’s the last thing you want to hear. You want to hear that: ‘Treat it like another cricket game, and go out and enjoy yourself, and express yourself.’
“So, finding that balance of realizing that it’s a very important game, and you’re under pressure, and you’re going to be criticized again if you lose. But also, just trying to go out and express yourself, and choose a character. That’s why I keep counting Charlie Dean.
“In England’s first ODI against New Zealand in Durham, England were collapsing. Who pulled them out of the hole again? Charlie Dean.”
While Maia Bouchier made 59 off 69 balls and Freya Kemp added 30, England’s batsmen, Knight, Emma Lamb and Jodi Grewcock all failed to pass 20 runs. Dean came in late and scored 31 off 46 balls.
“I think he has a real fight about him,” Hussein said. “He wants to go to war with someone, under pressure, he will release, and their standing captain goes in and out.
“So, choose a character perfectly. People are strong in difficult situations.”
Stream T20 World Cup matches for FREE
Everyone can stream all 12-team matches including England, Scotland and Ireland, as well as the semi-finals and finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup live. FOR FREE on the Sky Sports App.
All you have to do is download the latest version of the Sky Sports app on your phone or tablet and sign in.
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Watch every match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup exclusively live on Sky Sports and NOW, from the opening match on June 12 to the final on July 5. Hosts England kick off the tournament on the opening night with a match against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston (kick-off 6.30pm).
