Charlie Dean says England can "set our standards" for their big home cricketing summer when they face New Zealand in the first ODI match of the multi-format series as preparations ramp up for the Women's T20 World Cup.
England will play their first international of 2026 at Chester-le-Street on Sunday, live on Your Site Cricket, when they host the White Ferns in the first of three ODI matches.
Three T20 matches then follow from May 20 to complete the New Zealand series before England then face India at the end of the month in three more T20s. The World Cup starts next month, with England hosting Sri Lanka at Edgbaston in the tournament opener on June 12.
Dean, who captains the side for the three ODIs in the absence of Nat Sciver-Brunt who is not playing on precautionary grounds due to a minor left calf tear, is keen they start on the right foot against New Zealand.
"It would be brilliant for us to kick off with a win," said Dean.
"I guess it would set our standards as to how we want to go about playing this summer.
"They're off the back of a couple of really good series. They played South Africa and won in some high-scoring games out there. So, we knew that it's going to be a challenge and with a young group it feels like a really good opportunity for us to step up and show what we're made of."
Sunday's match marks England's first international since semi-final defeat to South Africa in the Women's World Cup in October in the 50-over format.
"Following on from the ODI World Cup in October it feels like a fresh start for us maybe in this format," said Dean.
"There's obviously some new players into the squad and potentially some debuts in the horizon which feels really exciting.
"But we've definitely got one eye on the World Cup. Obviously we now know the squads for that T20 World Cup so a lot of girls will be probably focusing a little bit on practising and making sure that we're ready come June 12.
"It's brilliant that we've got a lot of cricket between now and then playing some really brilliant teams, obviously New Zealand and then India coming across. So lots of cricket between now and then and just keeping our skills up to scratch and really working hard to be ready for June 12."
On playing without Sciver-Brunt, Dean said: "It's a bit of a loss for us not to have Nat around. She's here training and around the group which is brilliant.
"But it was just a bit too much of a push for her to play in three 50 overs. But she should be good to go for the rest of the summer, which is great."
England are without Mahika Gaur (foot fracture) and Alice Capsey (illness) for the ODI matches.
"I guess a little bit of a depleted squad but one that's really ready to come up against some real good challenge from the New Zealand squad," added Dean.
"We're excited to get the international summer started and really hit the ground running."
All 12 group matches at the Women's T20 World Cup involving England, Scotland, Ireland, plus the final, will be available to watch without subscription via Your Site App.
Watch the Women's T20 World Cup live on Your Site with selected games streamed for free via the Your Site App. .
