The Hobart Hurricanes have copped a double blow ahead of their BBL opener, with Ben McDermott undergoing surgery after being hit in the lower groin and import Jordan Thompson coming into contact with a coronavirus case.

Thompson has since tested negative but will remain in NSW as a precaution and not travel south with the team to Launceston for their clash against the Sydney Sixers on Wednesday night.

Hurricanes coach Adam Griffith said the 25-year-old English allrounder was simply unlucky and hadn’t done anything wrong.

“It was at the MCG. We had a training session, there was a second XI game on at the time,” he told reporters.

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“Through that situation it eventuated. They were walking from the nets down to the car park. It wasn’t like they were at the pub or anything.”

McDermott, who is coming off a match-winning century for Tasmania in the one-day cup, was struck at training on Monday.

He underwent surgery on that night and the Hurricanes are hopeful he can return before Christmas.

It puts further pressure on Hobart’s depth, with the side already without quick Scott Boland due to Australia A duties and speedster Riley Meredith (hamstring).

Griffith said the Hurricanes would take a cautious approach with Meredith, who broke into Australia’s limited overs sides earlier this year.

“He’s had a few little niggles over the last six months, so we’ll make sure he’s primed and ready to go,” he said.

Thompson, who is expected to miss just one game, has been replaced by young England allrounder Tom Lammonby in Hobart’s 15-man squad.

The Sixers flogged the Melbourne Stars by 152 runs - the biggest win in BBL history - in the tournament opener at the SCG on Sunday night.