England has announced its squad for the upcoming 50-over World Cup title defense, and it includes batter Harry Brook at the expense of Jason Roy. Brook, who was initially left out of England's provisional World Cup squad, has been included despite a series of recent failures against New Zealand. His impressive performances in the Indian Premier League and The Hundred have earned him a spot in the final squad.

Dawid Malan, who had a superb series against New Zealand, scoring 277 runs in three ODIs and earning the player of the series award, has also made the squad. He is a strong contender to open the batting for England. With Jason Roy sidelined due to a back injury, Malan took on the opening role against New Zealand and became the joint-fastest Englishman to reach 1,000 ODI runs, achieving this milestone in 21 innings, matching the records of Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott.

"We have selected a squad we are confident can go to India and win the World Cup," England men's national selector Luke Wright said in a statement.

"We are blessed with an incredibly strong group of white-ball players which was underlined by the performances in the series win against a very good New Zealand team.

"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."

Roy, who was an integral part of the England side which won the 2019 World Cup, gave up his incremental contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in May to play more franchise cricket.

England all-rounder and test captain Ben Stokes also returns having reversed his decision to retire from ODIs.

Also Read: Ben Stokes registers highest individual ODI score for England 

Stokes, who starred in England's victorious 2019 campaign on home soil, warmed up for the World Cup by smashing 235 runs in three innings against New Zealand.

It included a knock of 182 off 124 deliveries -- England's highest individual ODI score ever -- in the third match earlier this week.

Bowlers Adil Rashid and Mark Wood were injury doubts but both were named in the squad.

England begin their World Cup defence with the first match of the tournament when they take on New Zealand in Ahmedabad on Oct. 5 in a rematch of the 2019 final.

England squad:

Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes


Inputs from Reuters