England pacer Liam Plunkett has been ruled out of the end of the ongoing T20 Tri-series and subsequent five-match ODI series against New Zealand due to a recurrence of a hamstring injury.
The 32-year-old, who made a return to the England team against New Zealand in Wellington earlier this week, aggravated the hamstring injury in the opening ODI against Australia in Sydney last month.
Later, he was diagnosed with a grade one tear, but he remained with the team with the hope of featuring in the Trans-Tasman T20 series against Australia.
However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) now confirmed that Plunkett would not recover in time to take part in the ODI series against New Zealand and that the fast bowler would now head home.
"An MRI scan today confirmed a minor hamstring strain and this will not recover in time to take part in the ODI series. A replacement for the ODI squad will be announced in the upcoming days," the ESPNcricinfo quoted the ECB, as saying.
England will play a T20 match against New Zealand on February 18 at Seddon Park before heading into five-match ODI series, beginning February 25.