Charlie Dean, Maia Bouchier earn first call-ups; Fran Wilson out of England T20I squad

Allrounder Charlie Dean and batter Maia Bouchier received their maiden call-ups to England’s T20I side for the three-game series against New Zealand, the ECB announced on Tuesday (August 24). Fran Wilson missed out from the 15-member squad.



Dean returned six wickets in The Hundred for London Spirit and had a batting strike rate above 125 coming in lower down the order. She also had the knack of picking big wickets from the opposition side. In the first half of the Charlotte Edwards as well, she has six wickets to show in the three matches so far for Southern Vipers.



“We’re looking at more players than ever before, which is so exciting,” said Lisa Keightley, head coach of England.



“In the past selection meetings have by necessity been quite focused on the Centrally Contracted group, but the fact that so many other players are sticking their hand up and pushing for selection is testament to the progress the domestic structure is allowing the women’s game to make.”



Dean’s Vipers team-mate Bouchier, on the other hand, leads the batting charts for them in the Charlotte Edwards Cup. She turned up for the runners-up, Southern Brave, in The Hundred, where she scored 92 runs but had a strike rate of 143.75, the most for the team. The 22-year-old, perhaps, could vie for a spot in the XI with Sophia Dunkley.



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“We’re seeing improvements across the board, and there were a number of young English players who also shone in The Hundred, which bodes really well for the future,” added Keightley.



“This is another big series for us, and I want the team to continue from where they left off in the series win over India.”



England’s last T20I assignment was the home series against India, which they won 2-1. The first match against New Zealand is on September 1 in Chelmsford.



Squad: Heather Knight (c), Natalie Sciver (vc), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Freya Davies, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Natasha Farrant, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Danielle Wyatt, Maia Bouchier, Charlie Dean