Gary Ballance has been ruled out of next week's third Test against South Africa with a fractured finger.
Ballance was hit on the left hand while batting during the second innings of England's second-Test defeat at Trent Bridge on Monday.
The Yorkshire left-hander has now been diagnosed with a fractured index finger and saw a hand surgeon in Leeds on Tuesday.
England's medical staff will continue to monitor Ballance, who could yet be available for the fourth and final Test at Old Trafford next month.
The series stands at 1-1 heading to The Oval for the next game, live on Sky Sports, and England must find a new No 3 between now and July 27.
Coach Trevor Bayliss said in the wake of the heavy Nottingham defeat that Surrey's Mark Stoneman, Essex's Tom Westley and Lancashire's Haseeb Hameed were all under consideration for selection.
Stoneman and Hameed are both openers by trade, and Bayliss has already intimated Keaton Jennings will keep his place at the top of the order despite scores of 8, 33, 0 and 3 in the first two Tests.
Westley bats at No 3 for Essex and averages more than 53 in Division One of this season's County Championship.