NICK HOWSON: The 2019 champions' nine group matches are spread across eight different venues over 37 days - there are no back-to-back matches at the same ground - and involve significant amounts of travel
England are set to use the full breadth of their men's World Cup squad during their title defence in India, according to head coach Matthew Mott.
The 2019 champions' nine group matches are spread across eight different venues over 37 days - there are no back-to-back matches at the same ground - and involve significant amounts of travel.
Slow, spin-friendly, flat pitches are expected throughout the tournament but Mott is preparing to be fluid with selection in anticipation of conditions being changeable. Four years ago on home turf both Tom Curran and Liam Dawson went unused but a repeat scenario this time around seems unlikely.
Speaking to Sky Sports following the rained-off third one-day international between England's second string and Ireland at Bristol, Mott said: "We don't get a lot of continuity in where we play.
"We'll have to be flexible with our line-ups, make sure we do our due diligence a couple of days out and get the right mixture for what the venue demands."
Jason Roy was replaced in England's World Cup squad at the 11th hour (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
England finalised their 15-strong squad for the 10-team tournament following the New Zealand series win, replacing Jason Roy, who had been struggling with back spasms, with Yorkshire's Harry Brook. Chief selector Luke Wright had originally informed Roy he would travel for the tournament before the late change.
Mott, who won three white-ball World Cups with Australia women before last year's T20 triumph with England, says the squad selection process was the toughest he has experienced during his coaching career.
"It was the hardest selection I've sat in," he admitted. "When you leave out someone of the calibre of Jason Roy who has been such an amazing servant for England over a very long period of time you know you've got some talent in the room."
Jofra Archer is the only travelling reserve for the tournament as he ramps up his recovery from a catalogue of elbow injuries, with any additional replacements to be drawn from a pool of players who will remain at home until required.
Jofra Archer is the only reserve travelling to India (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
"It's just a pool of players, to be honest," said Mott when asked about the strategy around replacement players. "There are some players who are on the periphery of the team who know they missed out.
"It is a funny thing at a World Cup when you get an injury it might seem obvious from the outside but there are other things that go on inside the camp that people might not be privy to that we might need to cover.
"As much as we can we'll keep that option open but you've got a fair idea who will be in and around.
"You never know what the flow on effect will be from a single injury or illness in the sub-continent so the more we keep that flexibility the better."
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