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The countdown to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 has reached a fever pitch, and cricket enthusiasts around the globe are gearing up for what promises to be a thrilling tournament. England’s recent announcement of their confirmed squad for the showpiece event has further stirred up considerable excitement among fans.
The surprise inclusion of Harry Brook
On Sunday, the England Cricket Board (ECB) made a significant alteration to their provisional World Cup squad unveiled last month. The defending champions added young sensation Harry Brook to the team, a move that has piqued the interest of fans and experts alike.
Brook’s initial omission from the provisional squad had raised eyebrows, leaving many cricket aficionados questioning the selection. However, the tides have turned, and Brook now finds himself in the final squad.
Jason Roy’s exit
It is worth mentioning that Brook replaced the swashbuckling English batter, Jason Roy, to make his way into the team. Roy’s exclusion comes after he missed the four-match ODI series against New Zealand due to a back spasm.
As far as Brook’s journey back to the World Cup squad is concerned, it has been nothing short of remarkable. Although he had a below-par ODI series against the Blackcaps, his outing in the Hundred 2023 Competition and T20I format ensured he didn’t go unnoticed by the selectors.
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England’s national selector reflects on the change
England’s Men’s National Selector, Luke Wright, commented on the change England made to their provisional squad and said, “We have selected a squad we are confident can go to India and win the World Cup.”
Wright further lauded the performances of England players in the series against New Zealand. However, he also admitted that it was a hard call to rope in Brook and exclude Roy.
“We are blessed with an incredibly strong group of white-ball players, which was underlined by the performances in the series win against a very good New Zealand team. The strength of the group has meant that we have had to make some tough decisions, with Jason Roy missing out and Harry Brook coming into the squad,” reflected Wright.
Key players retain their spots
While Brook’s inclusion is a headline-stealer, the likes of Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, and Dawid Malan have retained their spots in the squad after impressive outings against the Kiwis.
Deadline for squad alterations
Interestingly, as the clock ticks down to the tournament, teams still have the opportunity to make changes in their squads. The final date for squad alterations for the World Cup is September 28th, providing selectors and team management a brief window to fine-tune their rosters.
England’s final squad for the ODI World Cup 2023:
Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes
