The BBL match between Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers on Thursday has been postponed due to a Covid-19 case within the Stars' camp. The positive result came from a member of the support staff on Thursday afternoon just hours before the game was due to take place. All other members of Stars' squad who had been in contact with the case have since undertaken PCR tests but are still awaiting the results, meaning the game cannot take place at the Marvel Stadium. It was already one of Scorchers' rearranged fixtures due to the border restrictions in Western Australia.
"While regrettable, the decision to postpone tonight's match was the only option available given the exposures within the Stars cohort," Alistair Dobson, the general manager of the Big Bash Leagues, said.
"The League has a number of biosecurity protocols in place to keep our participants safe and the competition moving forward. These protocols are regularly reviewed in response to the risks in each state. Safety remains our number one priority, and we will work with the Stars to get their side back on the field as soon as possible."
It is the first time the BBL or the WBBL has been directly hit by a Covid-19 case during the pandemic, and comes amid rising cases around Australia. Sydney Thunder's Sam Whiteman missed a game earlier in the season due to being a possible close contact.
Thursday's postponed match will be replayed later in the season, although no new date has yet been set; but already, there is very little room for disruption in the BBL schedule.
Melbourne Stars General Manager Blair Crouch said: "The staff member is being managed by Melbourne Stars medical staff in consultation with Cricket Australia and we look forward to them being able to return to the group in due course. We have key home matches scheduled on January 2 and 3 in Melbourne so we hope to have more clarity through testing over the next 24-48 hours."
Unlike the men's Ashes series - which has also been hit by a Covid-19 outbreak in the England touring part as well as to match referee David Boon - BBL clubs travel on commercial rather than chartered planes.
Earlier in the season, a Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Victoria was postponed for a day after allrounder Will Sutherland tested positive.
The Ashes tour is currently attempting to remain on track despite an outbreak in the England squad which has now reached seven cases, the latest one forcing head coach Chris Silverwood into isolation as a close contact.
The first of the cases in the England camp emerged on the second day of the MCG Test but the game was able to continue after the playing group all returned negative rapid test results, with Victoria having a looser definition of close contacts which is now being adopted more broadly.