Stone, who underwent tests on Wednesday, 16 January, has a bone stress injury to the left lower back and will return home for further investigation and treatment.

The 25-year-old, who is uncapped in Test cricket, made his one-day international debut on England's recent tour of Sri Lanka. He provided the side with an express pace option, although with veterans James Anderson and Stuart Broad, and young gun Sam Curran in the mix, he wasn't an automatic selection in the XI. 

Stone had been left out of the visitors' two-day warm-up game after complaining of a stiff back from the flight into the Caribbean, and when the problem did not settle, went through the tests that ruled him out, reports said. 

A replacement is yet to be announced. The first Test begins on 23 January in Barbados.

Speaking about the injury, Broad said, “It’s hugely disappointing. He felt sharp pain in his lower back the other day and that’s a sign of a bone reaction. He’s a fine bowler and I’m sure we’ll see him in an England shirt soon.”

This is another setback for Stone, who had missed most of 2017 with a knee injury.