Hosts England have announced their final 15 member squad for the World Cup on home soil later this summer. Eoin Morgan’s side will kick off matters against South Africa on May 30, and will be wearing a New Balance strip that appears to be a throwback to the country’s 1992 kit, with plenty of blue and far lesser red in the uniform.
What are the changes to England’s final World Cup squad?
From the original one named in April, there are three changes. Out go Alex Hales (drugs ban), Joe Denly and David Willey, and in come James Vince, Liam Dawson and Jofra Archer.
The Willey exclusion is perhaps harsh on the left armer, admitted as much by chief selector Ed Smith, but somebody had to make way for Jofra Archer given his exploits against Pakistan and Ireland, and the 29 year-old Willey was the man.
However given Chris Woakes and Mark Wood’s injury records, Willey might well find himself in the squad later in the tournament. The squad appears to have most bases covered, and the bowling, which was considered a slight weak point, has been given a major boost in the form of Archer, who can easily hit speeds of 145+ and boasts of fantastic variations.
Dawson’s inclusion was owing to a niggle to Adil Rashid, which saw the specialist spinner being chosen by England, rather than Denly, who is primarily a batsman who can chip in with a few overs.
Here are a few pictures of England’s new World Cup kit made by New Balance. NB are a popular name in the football world, and are supplying kits to both England and South Africa at CWC 2019.
The winners of the last two CWC’s- India (2011) and Australia (2015), won it on home soil. England are certainly among the favourites for the 2019 edition and will be keen to improve on their Champions Trophy performance, where they breezed through the tournament before falling to eventual winners Pakistan on a tricky semi-final pitch in Cardiff.
