We would go to Gabba regardless of quarantine: Matthew Wade

Australian batsman Matthew Wade has made it clear that the Australian team is keen on going to Brisbane for the last of the four-match series as opposed to the views expressed by the Indian management regarding staying back in Sydney and playing both the third and fourth Tests there. 

“We would obviously prefer not to. A schedule has been rolled out by Cricket Australia and we and CA would like to stick to it. There was also speculation about staying in Melbourne and CA has made it clear very firmly that we would be playing as per the schedule,” Wade said in a Press Conference ahead of the teams moving to Sydney for the third Test. 

“So I would expect this to go to the Gabba regardless of the fact that there might be a quarantine based hotel and we are only allowed movement from the ground to the hotel. We fully expect to go to Brisbane and play the Gabba Test,” added teh opening batsman. 

Australia has been brilliant at the Gabba in Brisbane in Test and usually, the Australian summer started with the Gabba Test, but the schedule was changed due to the Day/ Night Test as well as the pandemic’s impact and the Gabba Test has been scheduled to happen at the end of the tour. 

“There is no secret why we like starting the summer there and our record is good there. Indian have got a good bowling lineup and a great team. So we would obviously not take them for granted when we get there, but we would love to get there at the Gabba,” he said. 

Adding that it wouldn’t be Australia’s favour to play back to back games in Sydney, Wade said, “Two games at SCG is not something that we would prefer.”

Earlier, Cricbuzz reported quoting an Indian management official that the team was not keen on traveling to Brisbane, mostly after the five players were placed in isolation. 

"We aren't keen on going to Brisbane if it means being stuck in the hotel again, except for going to the ground. Instead, we don't mind being in some other city, playing both Test matches there to complete the series and returning home," the official had been quoted as saying. 

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They shouldn’t come: Queensland goverment rebukes Indian team over Covid-guidelines

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Indian team reluctant to travel to Brisbane

The Indian team is reluctant to travel to Brisbane for the fourth and final Test if more restrictions are imposed on the players. India has been pretty clear that there would be no restrictions in freedom of movement of the players once they are done with the initial 14-day quarantine. "If you look at it, we were quarantining for 14 days in Dubai before landing in Sydney and doing so for another 14 days. That means we were in a hard bubble for nearly a month before coming out. What we don't want now is to quarantine again at the end of the tour," a source in the Indian team told Cricbuzz."We aren't keen on going to Brisbane if it means being stuck in the hotel again, except for going to the ground. Instead we don't mind being in some other city, playing both Test matches there to complete the series and returning home," he added.The Indian team is scheduled to travel to Sydney by train on Monday (January 4) and begins the third Test on Thursday (January 7). Later, the team members along with some broadcast staff are set to travel to Queensland on a chartered flight. The team will travel to Brisbane despite the state having closed the borders to New South Wales. “We have cooperated with Cricket Australia at every step with regards to following the protocols within the bubble," the source said.The source further said that the management isn’t in favour of sending the players in another bi-bubble. “If you look at it, we are one of only two teams who have had zero issues while being on a tour during this pandemic. We are not in favour of sending the players into another hard bubble," the source said. Earlier, the members of the Indian team, Rohit Sharma, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill and Navdeep Saini came under scanner after an alleged bio-bubble breach. The matter was investigated by the BCCI who eventually rubbished off the reports. The players though were kept in isolation as a precautionary measure.