England will remain at liberty to make last-minute call-ups from outside their provisional 30-man World Cup squad until the cut-off date a month before the start of the tournament.

An International Cricket Council representative confirmed this morning there is no reason why any of the 16 countries set to compete in the Caribbean cannot nominate a left-field selection any time before February 13.

Reacting to reports that veteran Darren Gough could be in for an unexpected recall - after his omission from the initial 30 was widely thought to signal the end of the pace bowler's international career - the spokesman made it clear there is nothing out of the ordinary in England's inquiry over whether they can broaden the field again.

"If any of the boards feel the need to do this they can do so up to February 13," said the ICC source.

After that date, an extraordinary reason would have to be cited if a country wanted to change its final 15-man squad.

Gough, 36, is currently playing for an England veterans' team in a beach cricket tournament in Australia, having last featured for his country against Pakistan last summer - in a series he was unable to complete because of injury.

Opening batsman Marcus Trescothick, who left England's Ashes tour this winter because of a recurrence of his stress-related illness, was another notable omission from the 30 Caribbean possibles named last month.