Southern Vipers spinner Charlie Dean is included in England’s ODI squad for the up-coming 5-match series against New Zealand, with Sunrisers’ Mady Villiers making way.

Although Villiers has won 17 T20 caps since her debut in 2019, and is one of the best fielders in the world, England have never clearly defined a role for her with either bat or ball. Mark Robinson, the England coach at the time of her debut, always described her as a batter who could bowl, but England have invariably batted her down the order at 9 or 10, and recently she has rarely bowled more than two overs.

Dean, who was selected for the T20 squad but didn’t make an appearance, is likely to bat in a similar position, but will presumably have a more clearly defined bowling role as an off-spinner who looks to turn the ball.

Also retained from the T20 series is Danni Wyatt, who missed out on selection for the ODIs versus India earlier in the summer, and effectively replaces Fran Wilson in the squad. The expectation however would be that Lauren Winfield-Hill comes back into the starting XI to open the batting with Tammy Beaumont.

Kate Cross also returns to the squad. Having played in most of England’s ODIs over the past couple of years, Cross clearly remains part of England’s Ashes and World Cup plans, and with Anya Shrubsole currently nursing a sprained ankle will likely be fighting a 3-way battle for a spot in the XI with Tash Farrant and Freya Davies.

The series begins on Thursday in Bristol, with matches following in Worcester, Leicester, Derby and Canterbury.

Full Squad

Heather Knight (Western Storm)
Tammy Beaumont (Lightning)
Katherine Brunt (Northern Diamonds)
Kate Cross (Thunder)
Freya Davies (South East Stars)
Charlie Dean (Southern Vipers)
Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars)
Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder)
Tash Farrant (South East Stars)
Sarah Glenn (Central Sparks)
Amy Jones (Central Sparks)
Nat Sciver (Northern Diamonds)
Anya Shrubsole (Western Storm)
Lauren Winfield-Hill (Northern Diamonds)
Danni Wyatt (Southern Vipers)