England coach Mott hints Harry Brook could gain World Cup call-up

Brook was omitted when England announced its preliminary 15-man squad for the 50-over tournament in India which starts next month.

England’s Harry Brook was initially edged out by 2019 World Cup final hero Ben Stokes’s decision to reverse his retirement from ODIs. | Photo Credit: Reuters

England white-ball coach Matthew Mott has suggested rising star Harry Brook could yet feature at the World Cup, saying the defending champions’ final squad is “still open for debate”.

Brook was omitted when England announced its preliminary 15-man squad for the 50-over tournament in India which starts next month.

But teams do not have to confirm their squads until September 28.

The 24-year-old Brook was initially edged out by 2019 World Cup final hero Ben Stokes’s decision to reverse his retirement from one-day internationals.

But a hundred for Northern Superchargers in his next innings in The Hundred, followed by contributions of 43 not out and 67 in T20 international wins against New Zealand reignited the debate about Brook’s World Cup place.

Dawid Malan appears to be the specialist batter most likely to make way, although England could leave out all-rounder Liam Livingstone or drop a seam bowler to accommodate Brook.

“He is one of a number of players who has an opportunity to put their hand up,” Mott told the BBC.

“What I would say about Harry is that what you want to see from players when they miss out on a squad, is you want them to come out and slam that door down.

“And I thought at the start of this series, and with his hundred in the Hundred, he made a real statement...

“It is still open for debate and there will be plenty of good cricket played in the next month so we’ll see what that squad ends up looking like...

Read | New Zealand beats England by six wickets for 2-2 draw in 4th T20I

“It’s just an incredibly hard side to select and to squeeze 15 players into it.”

Mott was speaking following England’s six-wicket defeat by New Zealand in the fourth T20I at Trent Bridge, where the tourists reached a target of 176 to draw the series 2-2.

England next faces New Zealand in four ODIs, starting in Cardiff on Friday.

Brook is not in the squad for that series, but will likely feature in a three-match ODI series against Ireland, which would represent his last chance to impress before England fly to India.

“He may be in that Ireland squad so you can read into that,” Mott said. “It’s the media’s job to create speculation and it’s our job to put a lid on it and I think we are doing that. The players are coping with it really well.”