Jason Roy is DROPPED from England’s World Cup squad after suffering back spasms as Harry Brook is included for tournament in India despite struggling in New Zealand series

• Roy played no part in England’s 3-1 series win over New Zealand with back issues
• Brook wasn’t originally in the squad and failed to make much impact 
• But the selectors decided Brook was a safer bet given Roy’s injury problems 

England have dropped Jason Roy from their World Cup squad and drafted Harry Brook in for the tournament, which starts next month.

The selection panel met following England’s 3-1 Metro Bank ODI series win over New Zealand – where Roy failed to play in any of the four games due to repeated back spasms – and decided to make one change from the provisional squad they named last month.

‘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,’ said England Men’s National Selector, Luke Wright. 

‘We have selected a squad we are confident can go to India and win the World Cup.’

Harry Brook has been included in England’s squad to contest the Cricket World Cup in India

There is disappointment for opening batter Jason Roy, who is struggling with back spasms

Brook failed to make much impression against New Zealand, scoring just 37 in three innings

Dawid Malan is England’s form player entering the tournament and he made a century in the final ODI with New Zealand at Lord’s on Friday

Brook, 24, was originally not in the World Cup squad named last month but was added to the squad for the New Zealand series and despite failing to impress with just 37 runs in three innings, England have decided to opt for the Yorkshireman rather than opener Roy after Dawid Malan all but certainly secured his spot at the top of the order with 277 runs across three innings against the Black Caps.

Roy, who was an integral part of England’s World Cup winning campaign in 2019, is now set to miss a second successive World Cup after he was also not picked for the T20 World Cup squad last winter.

England begin their World Cup defence in Ahmedabad against New Zealand on October 5.

England World Cup squad 

Jos Buttler (Lancashire – captain); Moeen Ali (Warwickshire); Gus Atkinson (Surrey); Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire); Harry Brook (Yorkshire); Sam Curran (Surrey); Liam Livingstone (Lancashire); Dawid Malan (Yorkshire); Adil Rashid (Yorkshire); Joe Root (Yorkshire); Ben Stokes (Durham); Reece Topley (Surrey); David Willey (Northamptonshire); Mark Wood (Durham); Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)

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