Somerset and England wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter will miss the World Cup and possibly all of the 2015 season to receive treatment on an eye injury.
The 27-year-old was left with several facial injuries after being struck by a ball which went through his helmet grille while batting against Northants in July, and has since struggled to regain full vision.
He was named in England's 30-man provisional squad and announced as a new signing for Sydney Thunder in Australia's Big Bash League last week, but has since had to withdraw from both tournaments.
Somerset do not have a long-term prognosis on the South African-born glovesman, but say that he is "unlikely" to be fit for next year.
"It is really disappointing but my eye is not 100% and this of course is critical in maintaining the levels of performance that I expect of myself," Kieswetter said in a statement.
"I need to make every effort to resolve the matter and have the best specialist help in that regard."
Kieswetter has scored 1,054 runs at an average of 30.11 since making his ODI debut in 2010.
Joe Fish
