Chris Tremlett to join England World Cup squad

Tremlett will be used as a reserve (GETTY IMAGES)

Chris Tremlett is to join England's World Cup squad as a travelling reserve after a spate of injuries to their bowling attack.

Tremlett has now fully recovered from a side strain and is in contention to deputise for any of the host of his fellow bowlers who also suffered injuries during a tortuous seven-match one-day international series in Australia, which England lost 6-1.

National Selector Geoff Miller said: "Whilst the injured bowlers in the 15-man squad are all progressing well, the selectors have decided it would be prudent to have an additional player on hand who is acclimatised in case we need to apply to the Event Technical Committee for a replacement due to injury."

Yorkshire pacemen Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad were two of the bowlers to depart the ODI series early after suffering respective calf and hamstring injuries.

Tremlett, who flew home alongside Shahzad but has made a sufficiently swift recovery, would be an ideal replacement should any of that pair or Stuart Broad - nearing full fitness after an abdominal muscle injury ended his tour following the second Ashes Test - not make it.

Spinner Graeme Swann is a further doubt with a back problem and batsman Eoin Morgan was yesterday ruled out with a broken finger, but coach Andy Flower was upbeat on the prospects for his depleted bowling stocks.

"We've got good news on most of our other players," confirmed Flower.

"The guys that came back early are progressing well."

Tremlett excelled during the tour Down Under, taking 17 wickets at 23.35 in his three Tests as England won the Ashes courtesy of three innings victories and then adding a further six in four ODIs.