Matt Parkinson, the Lancashire legspinner, has been ruled out of the England Lions tour of the UAE after routine scans found a stress fracture in his back.
Parkinson enjoyed a stellar season in all formats last summer, claiming 59 wickets all told, including 18 in the Royal London Cup, the most by any bowler, and a further 25 in the Vitality Blast.
On the strength of those performances, he was earlier this month named as one of Melbourne Star's signings for the 2018-19 Big Bash, an opportunity that could now be in jeopardy depending on the seriousness of his injury.
"It's a real shame for Matt that he's forced to miss the tour," said Andy Flower, the England Lions head coach. "He had a fine summer for Lancashire and his selection was just reward for the ability that he's shown.
"He's been shut down from bowling and he'll see a spinal specialist this week as we try to determine the full extent of his injury."
Parkinson will be replaced in the England Lions squad by Sussex slow left-armer Danny Briggs.
It is the second time in as many winters that a young England legspinner has been diagnosed with a stress fracture, after Hampshire's Mason Crane was ruled out of the tour of New Zealand, having made his Test debut at Sydney during the Ashes.
Crane made a comeback to county cricket in the summer but was ruled out for the rest of the season after helping Hampshire win the Royal London Cup final against Kent in June.