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English quick Tom Curran has pulled out of the Sydney Sixers' Big Bash squad, needing a break from biosecure bubbles.
COVID-19 has cost the Big Bash another English star with Tom Curran pulling out of the Sydney Sixers squad.
Curran made the call to skip this year's competition, in desperate need of a break after five months of living in biosecure bubbles.
The English quick's decision came after countryman Tom Banton made a similar move over the weekend, pulling out of Brisbane Heat's campaign.
Under Australia's strict pandemic measures, overseas players must enter two weeks of quarantine on entry to the country before enjoying some small freedom in the Hub.
"I'm really sorry not to be playing in this year's Big Bash," Curran said.
"As you'll already know, it's been a very challenging year and I've been in (biosecurity) bubbles since July.
"I feel very lucky to play for the Sixers, I have loved my time with you all over the last two seasons and I can promise you, this decision was not taken lightly.
"I will hopefully be back for many years to come, recharged and ready to go again, but for now I just need some time, normality, see family and be home."
The 25-year-old has played two seasons with the Sixers, with club boss Jodie Hawkins understanding that the measures are taking their toll on players.
England's limited-overs squad are currently in South Africa, with fears they may be locked into further quarantine due to COVID cases in both camps.
Cricket Australia will also be keeping one eye on that, with a chartered flight out of the country to the Big Bash set by week's end.
Perth's Liam Livingstone and Jason Roy, Brisbane's Liam Gregory and the Sydney Thunder's Sam Billings are all slated to be on it.
Fellow Englishman Jonny Bairstow was also lost to the Melbourne Stars last week, after he was recalled to England's Test squad that will tour Sri Lanka.
It came a day before Brisbane bowler Mujeeb Ur Rahman also tested positive to the virus while in hotel quarantine after arriving from Afghanistan.
Just last week West Indies captain and Sixers signing Jason Holder warned it was only a matter of time before players began pulling out of competitions worldwide.
"I don't think I have spent this much time locked away in a hotel room in any time in my life," Holder said on signing for the Sixers.
"I'm not sure how much longer we can sustain moving around in these bubbles.
"It's been really tough being sat in the room seeing the same walls. Every time you leave and come back the room feels a bit smaller."
