Sussex fast bowler James Kirtley has been left out of England's World Cup squad.

He loses out to youngsters Steve Harmison and James Anderson who have been included having only just made their debuts during the recent triangular competition in Australia, It is a huge disappointment for Kirtley, who has been a member of the squad for the best part of a year.

The selectors have gambled on the fitness of three players for the tournament which starts in South Africa in February.

All-rounders Andrew Flintoff (hernia) and Craig White (side strain) are in the party and left-arm spinner Ashley Giles is also selected despite breaking his left wrist in the build-up to the Adelaide Test over a month ago.

He has ousted off-spinner Jeremy Snape from the final squad.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney said: "I'm satisfied that the players selected in this squad represent the best mix of experience and youth that England has available to it."

England squad: N Hussain (Essex, capt), ME Trescothick (Somerset), NV Knight (Warwickshire), RC Irani (Essex), PD Collingwood (Durham), ID Blackwell (Somerset), AJ Stewart (Surrey, wkt), C White (Yorkshire), A Flintoff (Lancashire), MP Vaughan (Yorkshire), AF Giles (Warwickshire), AR Caddick (Somerset), JM Anderson (Lancashire), SJ Harmison (Durham), MJ Hoggard (Yorkshire).