Mark Wood set for "indefinite break" after being ruled out of West Indies series and IPL

Wood, who has enjoyed one of the least interrupted periods of his career over the past 18 months, sustained the elbow problem during West Indies' first innings in the first Test in Antigua

Mark Wood has been ruled out of the remainder of England's Test tour of the Caribbean and will sit out the entire Indian Premier League campaign because of an elbow injury.

Wood, who has enjoyed one of the least interrupted periods of his career over the past 18 months, sustained the problem in his right arm during West Indies' first innings in the first Test in Antigua.

He has subsequently undergone scans, and it has been decided that he will take an "indefinite break" from the game, according to an ECB statement.

^{Mark Wood has been ruled out of the West Indies Test series and the IPL (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)}

The ECB have not released a great deal of information about the extent of the damage, or the precise nature of the injury.

Instead, England management will wait to comment further, with Wood due to see a specialist upon his return to the UK next week.

It is a blow for the national team, and a massive personal disappointment for Wood - who has regularly proved to be England's most dangerous bowler in overseas conditions.

He was due to join up with the new IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants following the conclusion of the West Indies tour, but the ECB have notified the BCCI that he will no longer be available. 

Wood, who withdrew from the 2021 IPL mini auction in order to spend more time with his family, was bought for £735,000 by Lucknow in the 2022 mega auction in Bangalore last month.

^{Wood has sustained an elbow injury which requires specialist assessment (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)}

England may or may not call up a replacement for the third Test, which is due to start in Grenada on March 24.

Liam Norwell, the Warwickshire quick, is on standby and would likely be the choice should the tourists choose to call for reinforcements.

Given Craig Overton and Ollie Robinson were both deemed unfit ahead of the second Test in Barbados, it would seem sensible for that call to Norwell to be made.

Both Overton, who was originally named in the second-Test starting XI before pulling out on the day of the game, and Robinson - who suffered a back spasm in the warm-up fixture prior to the first Test - are currently expected to be available for selection on Grenada.

In their absence, and that of Wood, England have turned to two Test debutants - Matt Fisher of Yorkshire and Saqib Mahmood of Lancashire.

Fisher took a wicket with his second ball in international cricket on Thursday, while Mahmood impressed with his discipline, pace and aggression. 

Meanwhile, back at home, James Anderson and Stuart Broad continue to watch the series on television.