Selector Luke Wright says leaving “superstar” Harry Brook out of England’s World Cup squad was “as hard a decision as you’re ever going to get”, after Ben Stokes’s return forced the Yorkshireman’s shock omission.
Brook’s was the surprise name missing from a 15-man squad announced on Wednesday for next month’s One-Day International series against New Zealand, with Wright confirming the same party will go on to the autumn’s tournament in India, barring injury.
While a hectic schedule has seen Brook restricted to just three ODI appearances in the year since his international breakout began, the 24-year-old is widely considered as the most exciting young batter in the country, already a T20 World Cup winner and currently averaging 62 in Test cricket.
Stokes’s decision to come out of retirement for England’s World Cup defence has, however, created a squeeze on middle-order places, with the Test captain selected as a specialist batter due to the chronic knee issue that continues to restrict his bowling.
Dawid Malan’s superb 50-over output and ability to cover for openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow see him retained, as do Liam Livingstone’s all-round abilities, leaving Brook as the man to miss out.
“It’s as hard a decision as you’re ever going to get,” said Wright, who also confirmed that Brook could yet go to the tournament as one of three travelling reserves. “No doubt he’s someone we couldn’t think any more highly of.
“Everything’s going brilliantly with Brooky. There’s no denying what a superstar he is, and what a huge future he’s got with us in all forms. That’s the incredibly tough decision we’ve had to make.
“I’m sure he’s disappointed, and there’s no doubting he’s going to be part of it going forward. But unfortunately in a 15-man squad, someone’s going to have to miss out. On this occasion it’s been him, but it didn’t make it any easier.”
Uncapped Surrey bowler Gus Atkinson is the one wildcard inclusion in England’s squad, the quick benefitting from Jofra Archer’s likely absence as he continues to recover from a stress fracture of the elbow.
Head coach Matthew Mott had previously suggested that England would take a risk on Archer’s involvement in the hope that he could be available by the time the World Cup reaches its latter stages in November.
However, Wright says England cannot afford to rush the 28-year-old back from the latest in a string of serious injuries, nor head into the tournament a bowler short. Archer will instead be named as a reserve, with the possibility that he could come in as an injury replacement if fit and required.
“There has got to be a duty of care with Jof,” Wright added. “We know how desperate we all are to have him, there's no doubt about that. But we've also got to get it right for him.
“As much as the temptation is to try and rush him in and get him in for the start of this World Cup, unfortunately we're just going to run out of time.”
Atkinson has enjoyed an outstanding summer across formats for Surrey and was clocked at 95mph during The Hundred last week, with Jos Buttler and Mott keen to have a second express pace option at their disposal alongside Mark Wood.
“He's been someone that I've been quite a big fan of for quite a while,” former England international Wright said. “He roughed me up on a few occasions when I was still playing and marked my card. When I came into this role, he was definitely someone that I was keen on and he's really kicked on this year.
“He's gone from strength to strength and he does just add that extra pace that everyone's always looking for. He's a real asset for us and we're delighted to give him an opportunity.”
