The Big Bash might be forced to take a seven-day break, with COVID rampant among the Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder squads.

The Stars on Friday confirmed seven players and eight support staff had returned a positive test for COVID-19.

“All Melbourne Stars players and staff undertook PCR testing yesterday, after confirmation of a positive case within the support staff,”a club statement read.“All players and staff members who tested positive are currently isolating for 7 days, as per government guidelines.“As a precaution, all players who tested negative yesterday, will undertake PCR tests again tomorrow.”

The spread among the Stars forced the cancellation of Thursday’s BBL game against Perth Scorchers at Marvel Stadium.

Remarkably, it was the first time a BBL game had been cancelled in the pandemic.

Overnight results showed several positive cases across multiple clubs.

The Thunder confirmed on Friday that four players had tested positive to COVID-19, ahead of their clash with the Adelaide Strikers tonight.

The Thunder played the Scorchers on Tuesday night, with all Perth players returning negative tests on Friday afternoon.

The entire Thunder squad, including its coaching and support staff, underwent PCR testing on Thursday after a positive Rapid Antigen Test result.

“Sydney Thunder are working with Cricket Australia and SA Health ahead of tonight’s KFC Big Bash League game against the Adelaide Strikers at Adelaide Oval,” a Thunder statement read.

One source suggested the entire BBL should take a seven-day break, which would mean no cricket is played across the New Year period.

The Stars’ home derby against Melbourne Renegades on January 3 is the biggest fixture annually and it was hoped that more than 40,000 fans would flock to the MCG on Monday.

But that match now appears little chance to happen.

While Scorchers’ coach Adam Voges was disappointed the game was cancelled, it did provide relief.

The Stars’ game would have been the Scorchers’ third in five days, to go with two travel days, flying from Melbourne to Canberra and back again.

“We were ready to go, we won’t mind having a couple of extra days break before hopefully taking on the Stars on Sunday,” Voges said, before news of the lastest outbreak.

Scorchers Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis, along with Nic Maddinson, who captains for the Melbourne Renegades, were called into the Australian Test squad for the SCG Test due to start on January 5 after Travis Head was forced to withdraw after testing COVID-positive.