Alex Hales not picked for West Indies tour due to hand injury

Of the 15-man squad selected for the ODI series against India Hales' absence is the only change, with no replacement selected

Alex Hales won't feature for England in their one-day series against West Indies next month (Getty)

Alex Hales' broken hand has cost him a place in England's one-day series in the West Indies next month but the selectors have resisted the temptation to tinker with the bowling attack.

Of the 15-man squad selected for the ODI series against India, which England lost 2-1, Hales' absence is the only change, with no replacement selected.

That gives Sam Billings three more matches to press his case as an alternative partner for Jason Roy at the top of the order but seamers Stuart Broad, Steven Finn and Chris Jordan have been overlooked.

At least one of the trio was thought to be in contention after Jake Ball, Liam Plunkett and David Willey failed to deliver consistently on the benign pitches of India but they all have another chance to book their place at a home Champions Trophy in June.

For Broad, who recently gave a reminder of his white ball skills during a stint with Hobart Hurricanes in Australia's Big Bash League, the news could conceivably mark the end of his limited-overs hopes.

The 30-year-old has played just two ODIs since the 2015 World Cup and if England are not tempted to draft him back into the 50-over picture at this stage of his career he looks likely to continue as a Test specialist.

One player who still has a good chance of making his way into contention is Durham paceman Mark Wood, who is still recovering from an ankle injury but would command a place in England's first-choice XI at the peak of his powers.

Chairman of selectors James Whitaker said: "There is a huge emphasis on white ball cricket during the first half of 2017, as we continue our preparation ahead of this summer's ICC Champions Trophy tournament in England.

Hales is dismissed during England's T20 match against Pakistan last year (Getty)

"We felt it was important to keep faith with the squad that competed during the recent tour of India. The current group of players are making excellent progress under the captaincy of Eoin Morgan and head coach Trevor Bayliss and the tour of the Caribbean will enable the team to test themselves in different conditions against a competitive side in the West Indies."

England will arrive in St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday February 22 and will play two warm-up matches at Warner Park before taking on the West Indies twice in Antigua and once in Barbados.

Hales, meanwhile, has been told he does not require surgery after meeting with a surgeon this week. He could still take part in the Indian Premier League auction and should be fit to take on Ireland in two ODIs at the start of May.

England squad for three-match one-day international series against the West Indies:

M Ali (Worcestershire), J Bairstow (Yorkshire), J Ball (Nottinghamshire), S Billings (Kent), J Buttler (Lancashire), L Dawson (Hampshire), E Morgan (captain, Middlesex), L Plunkett, A Rashid, J Root (all Yorkshire), J Roy (Surrey), B Stokes (Durham), D Willey (Yorkshire), C Woakes (Warwickshire).

PA