CHARLIE DEAN feels “ready to step up” if Nat Sciver-Brunt is off the field during the Women’s World Cup after the spinner confirmed she was England’s new vice-captain.

England neglected to appoint an understudy when Sciver-Brunt was named captain in April although her injury-enforced absence in three T20s against India in July meant Tammy Beaumont took the reins.

Despite being 24, Dean has long been touted for leadership responsibilities and she enhanced her credentials by overseeing London Spirit’s run to the knockout stages of The Hundred this summer.

She officially assumed her new England role in their World Cup curtain-raiser on Friday, when they thrashed South Africa by 10 wickets in Guwahati, and she believes she is primed for all eventualities.