England have 'more questions than answers' before the World Cup, says James Anderson
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England have "more questions than answers" around their 50-over World Cup squad, says Test bowler James Anderson.
The tournament starts on 5 October and England's provisional 15-man squad can be amended until 28 September.
Batter Harry Brook is the most notable omission, with Ben Stokes coming out of one-day international (ODI) retirement to take his place.
"England have an embarrassment of riches," said Anderson on Test Match Special.
England suffered an eight-wicket defeat in the opening ODI of a four-match series against New Zealand in Cardiff on Friday but Anderson says that is "not a major worry for England".
"They've got so much experience in that team. Ben Stokes, Joe Root, these guys love this competition and the big moments," said Anderson.
"You feel like you've got a group of players where any one of them can play in any 11 out of that 16/17 players could do a great job.
"It will always be the case, there are always players you will leave out. There are 17 in the squad, when [Jonny] Bairstow and [Jason] Roy are back [from injury], they come straight back in, that probably takes out Brook and [Liam] Livingstone, meaning Moeen [Ali] to come back in.
"It does feel like there are more questions than answers."
England face New Zealand, who they beat in the 2019 final, in the opening game of the World Cup in Ahmedabad.
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Three matches against Ireland follow this series against New Zealand. The first game is on 20 September but England's World Cup players are not set to feature. Brook is in the squad to face Ireland.
Eoin Morgan, who led England to World Cup glory in 2019, agrees with Anderson, believing England should know their squad by now.
"They are spoilt for choice with talent," Morgan told Sky Sports.
"Building into a World Cup you want to have absolute clarity and role definition and actually focus on players getting into good form with the bat and rhythm with the ball.
"If you can concentrate on that and build momentum going into the World Cup, that's a really good start, but I think England have some issues."
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Brook, 24, was called up to the squad for this series against the Black Caps after openers Bairstow and Roy suffered a should injury and back spasm respectively, adding to England's selection conundrums.
It came on the back of the right-hander hitting a century in The Hundred and a half-century in the T20 series against New Zealand.
"Harry Brook is causing a headache for the selection panel, given the form he is in and given the type of player that he is," added Morgan.
"There are 17 players here, you can only take 15 to a World Cup, so where do you fit Harry Brook in, if you fit him in at all?
"[There will be] a little bit of confusion in the changing room when all you want leading in is absolute clarity and confidence and to focus on actual results.
"They have a bit of a dilemma.
"Sometimes it can be a good thing, you can utilise it and make it work in your favour.
"If I go back to pre-2019 World Cup and the squad that was selected, it had all bases covered for injury and for roles. Looking at the preliminary squad for this World Cup, England have got a lot more strength in depth than we did."
'The seamers were pretty flat'
Another factor in England's selection is how little ODI cricket they have play compared with four years ago, when they gradually built form before the World Cup.
Between 2015 and 2019, England played 83 ODIs, but since 2019 to their tournament opener they will have only played 43.
Anderson, who has taken a record 690 wickets for a pace bowler in Test cricket, said there were still concerns around England's bowling attack, and how they will select the right combination in Indian conditions.
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Leg-spinner Adil Rashid was expensive at Cardiff, as was part-time spinner Livingstone, while seamers David Willey, who came on as first change, and Reece Topley struggled to create any chances when the new ball did not swing.
It allowed opener Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell to capitalise with unbeaten centuries.
"It was pretty disappointing from an England point of view. I thought they set a decent score," said Anderson.
"Mitchell and Conway put on an exhibition of how to chase down a total. Only Chris Woakes really created opportunities.
"Topley struggled, [Gus] Atkinson charged in but didn't create much. Rashid started brilliantly but in the end, he was tossing it up trying to buy a wicket and Mitchell smashed him for six.
"I don't think David Willey can play in this team unless he takes the new ball, Sam Curran is a better option.
"I would like to see Mark Wood, Brydon Carse, just to see what they can do. It was pretty flat from a seamers point of view."