BBL: Glenn Maxwell becomes latest Melbourne Stars player caught up in Covid nightmare

Covid-19 has torn through the Melbourne Stars’ ranks in the past week, and now superstar all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has tested positive.

Glenn Maxwell is in isolation. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Aussie international Glenn Maxwell has become the latest Melbourne Stars player struck down by Covid-19 in a horror seven days for the BBL side.

The Stars confirmed on New Year’s Eve that seven players had returned positive test results and that number had ballooned to 12 by Monday.

Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa, Joe Burns, Joe Clarke and Nathan Coulter-Nile were among those unavailable for Monday’s clash with the Melbourne Renegades, and the Stars confirmed on Wednesday morning that their captain would also be sidelined after returning a positive rapid antigen test.

Watch every game of the KFC Big Bash League Live & On-Demand on Kayo or catch up for FREE with minis on Kayo Freebies. Join Kayo Now >

“Maxwell returned a positive rapid antigen test after the game against the Melbourne Renegades and has since undertaken a PCR test and is currently isolating,” a Stars spokesman said.

“Melbourne Stars will provide an update once the result of the PCR test is known and ask everyone to respect Glenn’s privacy at this time.”

On Wednesday afternoon, the Renegades confirmed a member of their BBL|11 squad had also returned a positive rapid antigen test, forcing training to be cancelled.

All players and staff at the Gades will undertake PCR tests on Wednesday as a precaution.

The Stars have been rocked by Covid-19. Picture: AAP Image/Michael Dodge

The Stars were forced to call on local players to be able to field a team for the derby on Monday and lost by five wickets.

The side now sits second last on the BBL ladder having lost its last two matches.

However, the Stars have the chance to hoist themselves from the doldrums when they meet the last-placed Adelaide Strikers at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

While their captain likely won’t play in that game, the Stars should be bolstered by the return of at least a handful of players, pending the return of negative tests.

“The guys are meant to be coming out of their isolation period in a couple of days which is a huge light at the end of the tunnel,” all-rounder Hilton Cartwright said after the loss to the Renegades.

Marcus Stoinis, a member of Australia’s T20 World Cup-winning squad this year, is among the players sidelined. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Questions have been raised as to the fairness of forcing the Stars to continue playing, with even Renegades quick Kane Richardson admitting “it didn’t quite feel right” to be facing such a depleted Stars outfit this week.

“I feel for the club because if we’re in that position with 12 blokes out I don’t know how we’d put a team on the park,” he said.

“When is enough enough? At what point do you say there’s too many out?”

Originally published as BBL: Glenn Maxwell becomes latest Melbourne Stars player caught up in Covid nightmare