The Yorkshire cricketer, Harry Brook, has been excluded from England’s squad for the upcoming World Cup due to the return of Ben Stokes to the one-day international format. Luke Wright, England’s national selector, described the decision as extremely difficult. Additionally, Jofra Archer, who is recovering from an elbow injury, will not be able to participate in the tournament but will be included as a reserve.
The preliminary squad for the World Cup must be finalized by September 5th and the final squad of 15 players by September 28th. The plan is for the 15 players selected for the ODI series against New Zealand to also be part of the World Cup squad. Brook, who recently made his international debut and performed well in Test matches and the T20 World Cup, will only make the cut if another player is ruled out due to injury.
Wright stated, “This is the squad we’re presenting. It’s incredibly tough, but with Stokes returning as a batsman, it squeezes someone out in the middle order. There’s no denying Brooky’s talent and his bright future in all formats. Unfortunately, someone has to miss out, and this time it’s him.”
Nine players from the 2019 World Cup-winning squad will be part of the defending team, and only three players in this year’s squad are under 30 years old. One of them is Reece Topley, who is 29. However, the squad includes 25-year-old Gus Atkinson, a promising seamer from Surrey who has impressed selectors with his speed and skill.
Atkinson has played only two 50-over games in his senior career but has caught the attention of selectors with his performances in The Hundred, where he has averaged 89.4mph and hit a top speed of 95mph. Wright expressed his excitement for Atkinson, stating, “He adds that extra pace that everyone is always looking for.”
Due to Archer’s injury, England took a gamble on Atkinson, who is seen as a long-term replacement for Archer. Wright explained, “We’re running out of time, especially for the first part of the World Cup, and we have a duty of care towards Archer. We need to make sure we handle his recovery correctly. If something extraordinary happens and he becomes available, we can make changes, but it’s unlikely.”
The England squad for the T20 series against New Zealand has also been announced. Along with eight World Cup winners, the squad features several established players who missed out on the World Cup selection, including Brook, Ben Duckett, and Will Jacks. It also includes Josh Tongue, who might make his international white-ball debut after impressing in Test matches, and Johannesburg-born John Turner, who recently qualified to play for England based on his performances for Hampshire in the Blast.
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