Injured batsman heading home early to prepare for World Cup
Paul Collingwood will miss the final one-day international against Australia after suffering a back spasm.
The 34-year-old had treatment on the injury on Thursday but will fly home ahead of the remainder of the squad to begin his recovery ahead of the World Cup.
Collingwood becomes the fifth England player to be sent home early from the tour of Australia.
Seamers Ajmal Shahzad (hamstring) and Chris Tremlett (side) flew home earlier on Thursday to join Graeme Swann (back/knee) and Tim Bresnan (calf), who returned to England early last week, on the sidelines.
And with Stuart Broad still recovering from a stomach injury he suffered during the Ashes, the majority of England's World Cup bowling attack are on the physio's table.
However, all of them are expected to be fit for selection ahead of the World Cup opener against Holland on February 22.
Collingwood's early departure is also more precautionary and, with his wife due to give birth next week, the England team management decided there was little reason to keep him in Australia.
England head to Perth on Sunday with the one-day series already lost, the Aussies leading 5-1.
