Chris Gayle: West Indies opener out of England ODI series

West Indies opener Chris Gayle will miss the three-match one-day international series with England because of stiffness in his lower back.

The 34-year-old former captain, who has scored 8,743 ODI runs in 255 matches, is replaced by Dwayne Smith.

"He had precautionary scans and will have medical management and treatment in Jamaica," a Windies statement read.

The first of three ODIs in Antigua is on 28 February, followed by three Twenty20 internationals next month.

Gayle will hope to prove his fitness for the ICC World Twenty20, which begins in Bangladesh on 16 March.

The left-hander has scored 999 runs in 26 ODIs against England, with a best of 132 not out at Lord's in 2004.

Stuart Broad, who will captain England on their Caribbean tour, said: "We know what Chris Gayle offers. He can win a game on his own.

"I'm sure the West Indies will be desperate to get him fit for the World Twenty20. I'm sure they won't risk him too much in the next few weeks.

"As an England side, you want to test yourself against the best players in the world, and Chris Gayle is one of those."

Smith, 30, has not played an ODI for the Windies since December 2012, and has scored 1,102 runs in 87 matches at an average of 16 and a highest score of 68, also taking 59 wickets at a cost of 36 apiece with his right-arm medium pace.

The Windies are currently involved in a limited-overs series against Ireland, with the two sides meeting in a one-off ODI in Jamaica on Sunday after the Twenty20 series was drawn 1-1.