Harry Brook finds himself in limbo ahead of the Cricket World Cup as England debate whether to take their three reserves on tour
- The International Cricket Council are only funding 23 places per country
- That means any further players or staff will need to be paid for by each board
- England now have a decision to make if they will take their three reserve players
England are yet to decide whether to take their three reserves to this autumn’s World Cup title defence, potentially leaving Harry Brook grounded at home.
Yorkshire batting star Brook, 24, is destined to be one of a trio of players nominated as replacements in the event of illness and injury during the seven-week-long tournament, but with the International Cricket Council only funding 23 places per country it means extra personnel would need to be funded by individual boards.
This is not only a cost issue for the ECB but one of logistics, with England playing their group matches across eight different cities in India and never in the same venue consecutively.
England possess one of world cricket’s biggest entourages as it is, meaning the governing body already face a choice between paying out of their own pockets for backroom staff to travel or trimming the usual numbers.
Since receiving England captain Jos Buttler’s text informing him he had not made the provisional World Cup squad, Brook served notice of what the double world champions will be missing out on with a 41-ball hundred for Northern Superchargers.
Harry Brook could be left behind with England yet to decide if they will take three reserves to the World Cup, with the International Cricket Council only funding 23 places per country
Brook was pushed out of a place in the England squad after Test captain Ben Stokes (pictured) announced he would be returning to play in the 50-over competition
Tournament regulations allow for changes to squads to be made before September 28 – four years ago, Jofra Archer and Liam Dawson came in for David Willey and Joe Denly – but it is not thought to be something that England’s selectors are currently contemplating, having backed rival non-bowling batters Jason Roy and Dawid Malan.
Both players hit hundreds in each of England’s bilateral series in South Africa and Bangladesh earlier this year, although they have since lost form: Roy has just one 30-plus score in eight innings for Hundred finalists Oval Invincibles while Malan was dropped by Trent Rockets after four appearances yielded a best of 11.
On Brook’s statement hundred, Buttler said: ‘It’s not like it’s a surprise: we know what a brilliant player he is, he’s just the unfortunate one at the moment to not be in that squad.
‘Of course, Ben Stokes coming back and being available just as a batter sort of changes the dynamic a little bit.
‘Ben’s a fantastic player to be able to welcome back, so it was a really tough selection.’
Brook (pictured) admitted that he is ‘disappointed’ following his Cricket World Cup omission
Brook will get a further chance to emphasise his game-changing credentials during England’s four-match Twenty20 series against New Zealand, starting at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday evening.
However, Brook’s Ashes team-mate Josh Tongue was ruled out through injury on Saturday and will be replaced in the squad by Chris Jordan, England’s record wicket-taker in T20 internationals.
There will be two familiar faces in the New Zealand camp over the next few weeks too, after ex-England internationals Ian Bell and James Foster were drafted onto the coaching staff.
Foster, head coach of Northern Superchargers, will also accompany the New Zealanders to the World Cup.
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