England’s young batter Harry Brook has been added to the squad for the four-match ODI series against New Zealand as batting cover. As a result, Brook's path to the ODI World Cup is not completely closed.

To keep the discussion going over why he wasn't included in England's tentative Cricket World Cup roster, Brook has gone on an exceptional run of form since being left off the squad for the four-match series.

Brook's absence from the squad for the New Zealand series was a big surprise. He was dropped to make room for Ben Stokes, who came from retirement for the ODI World Cup.

Just as he was unexpectedly left out of the team, Brook also unexpectedly joined the team again. Jonny Bairstow in the New Zealand series is suffering from shoulder pain. His participation in the upcoming four-match ODI series is uncertain. And Dawid Malan becomes a father. So he has left the team to be with his family. This batter's entire series participation is uncertain. So Brook has been called into the team as an alternative.

It means that the series against New Zealand will become a competition for batting positions, with Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, and Liam Livingstone appearing most vulnerable to Brook's potential promotion. Roy and Malan have each scored two ODI hundreds this year, while Livingstone provides an option with his spin bowling, but all three have struggled in recent weeks.

However, Brook has been called into the team for the ODI series against Ireland also. But there is no player from the World Cup squad in that team. Zak Crawley will be the captain of the squad. Sam Hain, George Scrimshaw, and Jamie Smith are in contention to make their international debuts. Brydon Carse and Rehan Ahmed, who could serve as World Cup traveling reserves, are also in contention.

The ODI series between England and New Zealand will begin on September 8 with the first match in Cardiff. This series will end on September 15. Five days later, the Ireland series will begin at Headingley.

England squad for New Zealand ODIs: Jos Buttler (c), Gus Atkinson, Dawid Malan, Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Brydon Carse, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran.

England squad for Ireland ODIs: Zak Crawley (c), Ben Duckett (vc), Rehan Ahmed, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Hain, Will Jacks, Craig Overton, Matthew Potts, Phil Salt, George Scrimshaw, Jamie Smith, Luke Wood.