ESPNCricInfo
14 Jan 2022, 12:13 GMT+10
Glenn Maxwell and his Melbourne Stars are "cooked" from the effects of Covid-19 as they battle to make the BBL finals.
The Stars gave their top-five hopes a major boost on Thursday night when they dominated the second derby, beating Renegades by six wickets.
The win elevated the Stars from bottom to fifth place, while the Renegades are last and appear headed to their third-straight wooden spoon.
Maxwell top-scored with an unbeaten 68 and was man of the match in his second game back from the virus. It was a welcome return to form for one of the BBL's top players, who had only managed 30 runs from his previous five innings.
Related
Covid-19 has hit Stars hard this month and they fielded a patchwork team earlier this month in the first Melbourne derby, which Renegades won by five wickets.
"The guys are cooked, there's no secret about that," he said. "We're all tired, we're all holding on to get through this tournament. But we're really proud and we want to put our best foot forward. We want to perform.
"Once we get out onto the ground, we put all that aside and go our hardest, then deal with the fatigue afterwards."
While Maxwell returned to form on Thursday night, he was feeling the effects after the game as he continues to recover from his illness. He said the last two weeks had been hard on the team as the BBL reschedules games.
"We feel like we've been thrown around a little bit," he said. "It was a hard place to be, but, to the boys' credit they've kept their heads up, they've tried their backsides off.
"I was hit pretty hard with it, I was pretty ill for a few days. It just takes you a while to get full fitness - even out there, I felt with the heat and humidity that it affected you a lot more."
Stars now head to Adelaide to play the sixth-placed Strikers on Saturday, then host Brisbane Heat (second-last) at the MCG on Sunday.
They will end their regular season next Wednesday against the Hobart Hurricanes (fourth), also at the MCG.
While Marcus Stoinis (back) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (hamstring) are on the verge of returning, international players Haris Rauf and Qais Ahmad have had to go home. Rauf and Qais were outstanding against the Renegades, taking two wickets apiece.
Glenn MaxwellMelbourne StarsBig Bash League
Get a daily dose of Australian Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Australian Herald.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday. President...
GENEVA, Switzerland: A new United Nations report alleges that dozens of global corporations are profiting from and helping sustain...
LONDON, UK - Lawmakers in the United Kingdom have voted overwhelmingly to proscribe the direct-action group Palestine Action as a terrorist...
DHARAMSHALA, India: The Dalai Lama is set to address a significant three-day conference of Buddhist leaders this week, coinciding with...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: In a significant ruling last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for users...
ISTANBUL/PARIS/BRUSSELS: As searing temperatures blanket much of Europe, wildfires are erupting and evacuation orders are being issued...
Nearly three months after a devastating earthquake struck Myanmar, the country remains trapped in a deepening crisis, compounded by...
MELBOURNE, Australia: A second embryo mix-up in just two months has pushed one of Australia's largest IVF providers back into the spotlight,...
SYDNEY, Australia: Australia will not ease its strict biosecurity rules during trade talks with the United States, Prime Minister Anthony...
(250704) -- SLIVERSTONE, July 4, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Haas' driver Oliver Bearman of Britain is interviewed during the press day before...
New Delhi [India], July 4 (ANI): In one of the largest crackdowns on the illegal pharmaceutical trade, the Narcotics Control Bureau...
Washington DC [US], July 3 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the South China Sea was discussed during the Quad...