Stand-in captain Charlie Dean has firmly backed England's decision to pull players from domestic matches for a high-intensity army bootcamp, insisting the bonding experience was essential for World Cup preparation. The 15-player T20 World Cup squad traded their bats for combat gear at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, missing last week's One-Day Cup fixtures—and some had already sat out earlier matches for training at Loughborough.

"Missing a game or two doesn't feel like too much of a detriment when we really feel that was productive for us," Dean told BBC Sport. "We felt to get together as a T20 squad, that was something we needed to do. We've had some really productive conversations."

The timing is critical: England haven't played competitively since October, spending the winter in internal camps as they gear up to host the T20 World Cup this summer. Sunday marks their return to action at Chester-le-Street, where Dean will captain the side for the first time in a three-match ODI series against New Zealand, stepping in for the injured Nat Sciver-Brunt (calf).

Dean acknowledged the intensity of the selection process has created friction. "We've had camps throughout the winter where we've probably been fighting for places," she said. "That pressure of trying to get into the squad for the T20 World Cup creates a tough environment. We felt we really needed to gel together and move forward as one. The camp has allowed that to happen, to really get some group cohesion. We want to win a World Cup—that's our goal this summer."

The move echoes England's men's team, who famously used bonding trips before away Ashes series. Before their triumphant 2010-11 tour of Australia, they spent five days in Germany where James Anderson had his rib broken boxing teammate Chris Tremlett. Three years later, a mock surveillance exercise in Staffordshire preceded a humbling 5-0 defeat. For Dean's squad, the army camp aims to build unity—not bruises—as they chase World Cup glory on home soil.