Erin Burns to miss WBBL 07 due to Australian border restrictions

The Sydney Sixers allrounder had planned to join up with the squad in Launceston but has had travel requests to enter Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland denied

Sydney Sixers allrounder Erin Burns will miss the entire Women’s Big Bash regular season due to Australia’s state border restrictions, an announcement which has left the team "a little bewildered."

Burns missed the start of the tournament after opting for an extended period of rest following her return from The Hundred but planned to join up with the squad in Launceston. However, her entry into Tasmania was denied as were subsequent requests to enter South Australia and Queensland for the Adelaide and Mackay legs of WBBL 07.

As a result, she will miss the entire group stage of the tournament but may still feature this season if Sydney Sixers host the finals.

Australia has significantly limited movement during the pandemic, with several states still imposing strict travel and quarantine restrictions. The restrictions forced the WBBL to relocate to Tasmania for the first 20 matches, with Perth, Adelaide and Mackay scheduled to be used as hubs later in the tournament.

^{Burns represented Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred}

Cricket NSW’s acting head of female cricket, Clare Crewdson, said: "We are disappointed for Erin and her teammates and a little bewildered as to why we were unable to achieve what other sports have, by moving players and families across borders to fulfil their jobs.

"But at the end of the day we respect the decisions and processes implemented by state governments and feel for those people locked out of states that are unable to see family and friends."

Burns added: "I’m gutted I can’t join the Sixers because WBBL is always such a highlight of the season and so not to be able to pull on the magenta with the girls is devastating."

Burns’ absence is a huge loss for the Sixers, who are currently second-bottom of the table after winning two of their first five matches.

A six-time Australia international, has scored 1,311 career WBBL runs and taken 38 wickets. More recently, she impressed for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred, scoring 156 runs and taking seven wickets.

Sydney Sixers currently have no plans to replace the 33-year-old in their squad.