India vs Australia: Won't prefer back-to-back matches in SCG, looking forward to final Test at Gabba: Wade

Australia opener Matw We on Sunday said his side would t like scheduled final Test in Brisbane being shifted to Sydney even as reports emerged that India are reluctant to play at Gabba because of stricter quarantine protocols re.

According to reports, Indians are t keen to travel to Brisbane in view of stricter quarantine protocols in Queensland and want to play back-to-back games in Sydney where third Test begins on Thursday.

"I have t heard of this, but we obviously prefer t to (play back-to-back in Sydney). schedule has been rolled out and we prefer to stick to that. Regardless, if that is a quarantine-based hotel, go to ground, play and come back," We said in a virtual press conference.

"Cricket Australia have been firm that y will stick to schedule that we rolled out at start of summer so we fully expect to play at Gabba. re is secret that we would love to play at Gabba" "Harder quarantine and stricter bio-security protocols will be re. But we are rey for more sacrifice and face more challenges," he ded.

India has t won a single Test match at Gabba.

According to Australian media reports, Indians are t happy at possibility of going to ar strict quarantine in Brisbane since y have alrey served 14-day quarantine upon entry to Australia.

fourth and final match is scheduled from January 15. four-match Test series is currently level at 1-1.

"From our position, re is uncertainty, we are going to play at SCG and n playing at Gabba until we are told that it is going to change. So, we are rolling to next game expecting what is going to be. It is out of our control and re is thing we can do." He side-stepped issue of five India Test players, including vice-captain Rohit Sharma, being placed in isolation and an investigation launched into a possible breach of COVID-19 bio-security protocol after a video of m sitting at an indoor restaurant here surfaced.

"What India is doing, I have t really thought much about. As a group and personally have t thought much about what India is doing outside a cricket ground. That is situation. We are thinking of how we can do much better," said 33-year-old left-handed batsman.

We said he expects star batsman Steve Smith to come back to form after underwhelming performances in first two Tests and deal better with Indian spinners led by R Ashwin and Ravindra Jeja.

"y (Ashwin and Jeja) are a tough spin duo to crack, very consistent and have bowled terrifically well, especially in Melbourne. Probably y got more spin and bounce, more than what we expected in first innings. That was a little bit of shocker, but we expected that to come into play.

"We didn't apt quick eugh to that wicket, but Steve (Smith) played against Ashwin plenty of times before this and he has been very successful on our wickets against him. I am sure he will be fine and problems at all.

"We have to find a way, that's nature of beast," said We who has scored 111 runs from four innings he has played so far.

His batting position has been a topic of discussion after David Warner and Will Pucovski were named in squ for third Test but We said he is rey to bat anywhere.

"I have really enjoyed opening, moving forward if that is something that selectors want me to keep doing more, I am comfortable doing. If I slide back down order, I will do that also.

"I am rey from 1 to 7. I am happy to bat wherever playing games for Australia, I will take every run I get." We said he is also prepared about possibility of even being dropped.

"Will (Pucovski) has come back into squ, so wher y make that change straight way and I slid back down, or wher I don't play at all, who kws.

"I am t a selector but indication at this st and I prepare to bat where I have been batting and if I slide back down, I am comfortable re as well." 

Im credits: AP