Ballance included in 15-man World Cup squad

England selectors today announced a 15-man squad for the tri-series against Australia and India next month and the ICC Cricket World Cup.

Selectors have made three changes to the one-day squad that lost 5-2 to Sri Lanka earlier this month. Led by Eoin Morgan, James Anderson and Stuart Broad return from injury with batsman Gary Ballance also included. Alastair Cook, Ben Stokes and Harry Gurney are the three players to miss out from the most recent one-day squad.

The squad will leave for Australia on 6 January for a tri-series against Australia and India ahead of the World Cup. England will open their World Cup campaign on 14 February against Australia in Melbourne.

National Selector, James Whitaker, said: “We have had to make some difficult decisions to get to our final squad but firmly believe that the 15 players selected offer the very best chance of success at the World Cup.

“I would like to congratulate all players on their selection and wish Peter, Eoin, and the squad all the very best. Representing England in a World Cup is a huge honour and responsibility, something all the players recognise. There have been a number of promising performances from players in recent series and it is important that this squad continues to develop their one-day skills quickly and players start to show the sort of consistency needed to succeed regularly on the world stage.”

This is England's 15-man squad for the #CWC15 https://t.co/zYP4v6Qc3w
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) December 20, 2014

England One-Day Squad

Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) (Capt)

Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)

James Anderson (Lancashire)

Gary Ballance (Yorkshire)

Ian Bell (Warwickshire)

Ravi Bopara (Essex)

Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)

Jos Buttler (Lancashire)

Steven Finn (Middlesex)

Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire)

Chris Jordan (Sussex)

Joe Root (Yorkshire)

James Taylor (Nottinghamshire)

James Tredwell (Kent)

Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)

Always get butterflies in the stomach being named in an England squad. Can't wait to board that flight and do our fans and country proud
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) December 20, 2014

Selectors also finalised two England Lions squads for the tour of South Africa beginning in early January. Jonathan Trott will captain the 4-day side with a captain for the one-day side to be announced at a later date.

I'm really happy to be given this responsibility with the @ECB_cricket Lions. It will a be an exciting challenge to lead the talented group!
— Jonathan Trott (@Trotty) December 20, 2014

Two fast bowlers, Mark Wood of Durham and Matthew Dunn of Surrey, have been added to the provisional squad that was announced in October, and Ben Stokes and Harry Gurney have been included in the squad for the one-day matches following their omission from the World Cup squad.

England Lions 4-day squad

Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire) (Capt)

Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire)

Sam Billings (Kent)

Jack Brooks (Yorkshire)

Matthew Dunn (Surrey)

Alex Lees (Yorkshire)

Adam Lyth (Yorkshire)

Craig Overton (Somerset)

Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire)

Boyd Rankin (Warwickshire)

Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)