Paine pushes for India Test at Gabba

CAPTAIN Tim Paine wants to continue the 31-year love affair between the Australia Test team and the Gabba when mighty India returns next summer.

And to make his point he made a playful quip at the expense of Indian captain Virat Kohli about his megainfluence on the world game.

It has been strongly rumoured India did not play at the Gabba last summer because they said they would play in Perth or Brisbane but not both, and those rumours won’t be extinguished by Paine’s pointed jibe.

Australia’s players want the first Test against India to be at the Gabba.

“We’ll certainly be trying [to play in at the Gabba], we’ll have to run that by Virat,’’ Paine said.

“We’ll get an answer from him at some stage I’m sure. That’s where we like to start our summer and it has been for a long, long time except for last summer.

“We’ll ask Virat and see if we can get his permission to play here and even get a pink-ball Test if he’s in a good mood.’’

In a significant moment in the interstate war for hosting rights when the world super powers arrive in 12 months time, Paine has sprouted the Gabba virtues after Australia beat Pakistan by an innings and five runs with a day to spare

“I think we like playing here, Australian teams have bowled and batted well here for a long time, so we’d like to start here against anyone,’’ he said. “Having said that it doesn’t win us games of cricket. The reason we win games of cricket at the Gabba is because we outplay our opposition. That doesn’t change dependent on the venue.”