The Melbourne Stars' threadbare roster has been hit further after news that a further two players have tested positive for Covid-19.
As first reported by Fox Sports, the Stars will be without 12 names for Monday night's Melbourne Derby against the Renegades after opening batters Joe Clarke and Tom Rogers returned positive tests following Sunday's 50-run loss to the Scorchers.
While the duo will be out of action for the cross-town clash scheduled for a 7:15pm AEDT start at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Victorian Shield representative Travis Dean will return to the Stars' line-up for the first time since December 2018.
Other names available to interim head coach Chris Rogers include premier-grade cricketers Patrick Rowe and Lachie Bangs, as well as international import, Ahmad Daniyal.
Although the Stars have been forced to cycle through their rolodex in an effort to field an XI across their past pair of fixtures, Renegades paceman James Pattinson is also said to be sweating on the results of a PCR test according to Fox Cricket reporter, Tom Morris.
Despite being rooted to the foot of the 2021/22 BBL table, the Renegades will see this latest Derby meeting as the perfect chance to claim their first win since edging the Adelaide Strikers on December 7, 2021.
Each of Melbourne's pair of Big Bash League franchises are set to release their amended squad lists at a time closer to Monday night's bat flip.
