The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has officially declared its provisional 15-player squad for the much-anticipated ICC Men's ODI World Cup, set to be held in India from October 5. The lineup features several significant decisions, most notably the inclusion of all-rounder Ben Stokes and the exclusion of emerging talent Harry Brook and renowned fast bowler Jofra Archer.
In a surprising turn of events, it came to light on Wednesday that Ben Stokes had reversed his earlier decision to retire from One Day International (ODI) cricket. He is now scheduled to make a comeback in the upcoming four-match ODI series against New Zealand. Luke Wright, the England selector, confirmed that the same group of players chosen for the New Zealand series would constitute the provisional World Cup squad.
Given this decision, Brook will be absent from his debut World Cup, while Archer's participation is limited to being a travelling reserve for the World Cup. Speaking about the squad decisions, Luke Wright stated on Wednesday, “This is the squad we are going to put forward. It’s incredibly hard on some players that are going to miss out. It shows the strength and depth we have in English Cricket and there are other names who are knocking on the door as well.”
He further emphasized the difficulties of the selection process, saying, “With the balance of the squad, and with only fifteen that you can name, it’s incredibly tough.”
Luke Wright also acknowledged the undeniable asset that Stokes brings to the team, adding, “The return of Ben Stokes only adds to that quality with his match-winning ability and leadership. I am certain that every fan will enjoy seeing him back in an England ODI shirt again.”
It's worth noting that official submissions of the provisional World Cup squad to the ICC are due by September 5. Additionally, teams have the flexibility to make any last-minute adjustments to their lineups until September 28, ensuring the best possible team representation at the global event.
Here's England's provisional squad for the ODI World Cup 2023
Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes.
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