England bowler Graham Onions is facing nine months on the sidelines following surgery to cure a long-running back problem.
The 27-year-old has been sidelined since leaving the Test tour of Bangladesh in March after reporting discomfort in his back.
The England medical staff attempted to treat the injury without surgery but Onions has now been told he must go under the knife.
"Graham has been suffering from ongoing discomfort due to stress fractures on both sides of his back," explained the ECB's chief medical officer, Dr Nick Peirce.
"We have thoroughly exhausted all avenues of conservative treatment and rehabilitation with surgery very much seen as a last resort.
"Unfortunately, Graham has not responded to these forms of treatment and as a result we have no option left but to undertake a course of treatment involving surgery.
"The surgery Graham faces is a relatively significant operation and his rehabilitation will see him ruled out of all cricket for approximately up to nine months."
Onions had been named one of Wisden's five cricketers of the year following an impressive breakthrough onto the international scene in 2009.
He added: "While I'm devastated to be facing such a long lay-off from cricket, I'm determined to overcome this setback and make sure I get back bowling again next year and work my way back into the England calculations."