The New Year’s Eve match in Adelaide is under threat as are future Stars fixtures
The BBL has been hit by further positive Covid-19 cases after four Sydney Thunder players tested positive ahead of the New Year’s Eve clash against Adelaide Strikers in Adelaide while seven Melbourne Stars players and eight staff members have now also tested positive.
The entire Sydney Thunder squad, including staff, underwent PCR tests yesterday following a positive rapid antigen test on Thursday. A Sydney Thunder spokesperson confirmed that the club was working with Cricket Australia and SA Health ahead of tonight’s clash with Strikers but there has been no confirmation of whether the game will go ahead.
Meanwhile, all Stars players and staff who have tested positive are currently isolating for seven days in accordance with Victoria government guidelines. None of those players or staff will be available to participate in Stars’ next two scheduled matches on January 2 against Scorchers and January 3 against Melbourne Renegades.
Cricket Australia are scrambling to find solutions to keep the competition running following the positive cases among both clubs.
Perth Scorchers duo Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis, and Melbourne Renegades captain Nic Maddinson have been called up to the Australia Test squad as cover for the Sydney Test.