Jason Roy has been left out of England’s finalised 2023 Cricket World Cup squad, with Harry Brook picked in his place.

The 2019 World Cup winner did not feature in any of England’s four ODIs against New Zealand due to a series of back spasms, with Dawid Malan staking a claim as their first-choice opener in his absence. Brook, not part of the provisional 15 named in August, has been added to the squad, having played a series of eye-catching innings in the interim.

Roy’s form has been of concern to England for some time, though he had allayed those worries somewhat with centuries in South Africa and Bangladesh earlier this year. His stature as one of England’s most important players had already come under question, with the explosive opener left out of the 2022 T20 World Cup squad, a decision vindicated by England’s triumph.

Roy struggled for form during the Hundred, and fitness issues meant he was unable to shore up his place against New Zealand. Malan, opening in his absence, made two half-centuries and a century as England won 3-1, pencilling in his name to open alongside Jonny Bairstow in England’s first-choice World Cup XI.

That left the decision over the identity of England’s spare batter as being between Brook and Roy. While Roy is an England great in the format, with an average just shy of 40 and a strike-rate above 100 in ODIs, Brook is rated as one of the most exciting young batting talents in world cricket. Brook made just 37 runs in his three ODI innings against New Zealand, but had earlier demonstrated his worth with a succession of pyrotechnic knocks in The Hundred and in England’s T20I series draw against the Black Caps.

Brook’s flexibility also worked in his favour. While he is primarily a middle-order option, he opened in the first two ODIs against New Zealand, whereas Roy has only ever opened for England in ODI cricket.

“We have selected a squad we are confident can go to India and win the World Cup,” said national selector Luke Wright. “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 on world-class players with Jason Roy missing out and Harry Brook coming into the squad.”

Apart from that, England’s squad is unchanged. In particular, there is no room for Jofra Archer, despite the right-arm quick returning to England training this month. He may yet be included as a travelling reserve, with England not yet confirming who their three back-ups will be. England are second favourites to win the Cricket World Cup at 3/1 with Betway.

England’s 2023 Cricket World Cup squad: Jos Buttler (c), Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Reece Topley, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, David Willey, Sam Curran.

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