COVID will not be stopping the BBL this season, with two gamers taking to Tuesday evening’s opener whereas constructive with the virus.
Melbourne Stars’ weapons Joe Burns and Marcus Stoinis each examined constructive for the virus within the hours earlier than the sport however performed on regardless of their last-ball loss to the Sydney Thunder.
It was a far cry from the Stars’ January conflict towards Perth, one of many more odd video games in BBL historical past, the place they fielded an unrecognisable lineup after 10 gamers and eight workers members obtained the virus.
Burns and Stoinis sat away from their teammates whereas ready to bat, travelled to the bottom in a separate automotive and used their very own dressing room.
The league intends to arrange a 3rd changeroom in any respect video games this season with COVID-infected gamers from each side to theoretically share the services, however will not cease gamers from competing with the virus in the event that they really feel snug.
That was only one a part of a tough day for Burns, who damage his hamstring whereas batting earlier than retiring and leaving the bottom for scans.
Stars captain Adam Zampa admitted it was a bizarre feeling holding the teammates separate, however mentioned it needed to be the norm to maintain the competitors rolling.
“It’s something we’re getting used to now, it’s happened already quite a bit this summer through the World Cup,” he instructed reporters.
“We don’t even speak about it, it’s just a quick message saying these guys are positive and stay away.
“Burnsy’s had a troublesome day with the hamstring and that as effectively, he’ll be fairly flat I feel and the identical with ‘Stoin’, I do not suppose he was fairly up for it with the ball and he would have been fairly useful.”
Burns had hobbled through singles where possible but eventually succumbed, retiring on 18.
Stoinis offered no such resistance, holing out for a golden duck
He wasn’t well enough to field or bowl later on and instead watched the second innings from the boundary draped in a blanket after warming up in the change of innings to bowl.
Zampa guessed Canberra’s chilly weather had got the best of him.
“I had COVID 5 – 6 weeks in the past, it was freezing chilly in Perth and I simply bear in mind feeling the colder it obtained, the extra I felt it, the extra my physique ached,” he mentioned.
“The solar was out earlier than the sport so I’m certain he felt just a little bit higher, however you would not wish to have COVID and be out within the chilly.”
It is unclear if Stoinis will again up for Friday evening’s house opener towards Hobart, though Burns would seem a certainty to overlook along with his hamstring.
