G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: I challenged Will last night - he's been talking up his FIFA, so as a former FIFA king myself I thought I'd go down and test him out and see what the youth of today were like - but he dusted me pretty quickly. Tonight I'll be staying in my room, I think. - Tim Paine on losing his video game crown to young Will Pucovski. .

We're not quite back up to full-speed, but here's a few stories that caught our eye over the weekend:

🍺 The most Aussie catch in the BBL

🐶 This Dog Loves his Racing

🔥 The A-League is on fire

🏏 Cricket

‘Don’t come’: QLD’s blunt message to India as quarantine demand puts Gabba Test in doubt

The Brisbane Test is in jeopardy amid reports the Indian squad is refusing to travel to Queensland if strict quarantine protocols remain.

The Daily Telegraph and Cricbuzz are both reporting that senior Indian sources believe further restrictions would have a negative impact on mentally exhausted players.

It is reported that India will not travel to Brisbane for the fourth Test if it means being stuck in rooms.

Therefore a new plan which would allow players to mingle among themselves inside hotels could be crucial to ensuring the Test can go ahead as planned.

“We’ve worked with them so that they can have bubbles within that hotel,” Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young said.

“They’re going to be going and playing with colleagues in the match, so they’re going to have exposure there, so it doesn’t concern me if they have exposure to one another in the hotel.

“But they can’t leave the hotel and they can’t go out in the general community.”

Dr Young was confident the proposal would ensure the Test could go ahead as planned.

The most Aussie catch possible.

It went straight to a young family and while it went through the hands of one man, it was bunted into the beer of the man sitting next to him.

“It landed in the cup,” Mark Waugh said before the man went to drink out of the beer with the ball in it. “What is he doing?”

The commentators were laughing at the antics with Brendan Julian added: “What about the COVID? He doesn’t want to touch it. You can’t give it back without the beer.”

The man and the kids were enjoying it as well as the man threw the ball back but it had to be changed out regardless.

Warner to return

Australian opener Matthew Wade has revealed that the team expects David Warner to play against India at the SCG and provide a huge shot in the arm for a struggling batting unit.

"We expect David to play, so it'll either be me opening with him or they'll make a change," Wade told reporters on Sunday. (nine)

Chris Hemsworth's trainer spills the beans on a week long bootcamp with Steve Smith

Celebrity personal trainer, Luke Zoochi has spilled the beans on a week-long "torture session" that Steve Smith completed in Byron Bay.

The star batsman travelled to the Byron in July attending Chris Hemsworth's 'house of pain', to complete the gruelling week prior to his jam packed playing schedule.

Zoochi explained that he was shocked at Smith's level of fitness — with no offence to cricketers of course.

"Not to diss cricketers, but I think I went into it thinking he would be nowhere near as fit or strong as what he was," Zocchi told the Daily Telegraph.

"He's bloody focused and determined. I put him through some hard sessions and he blew me away actually how athletic he was to be honest. I was really surprised how strong he was.

⚽️ Football

The A-League has Landed

So much positivity around the A-League over the weekend. CCM winning, goals going in from everywhere. It was box-office stuff.

Central Coast Mariners stunned hosts Macarthur FC 2-0 in a disappointing first home game for the A-League’s newest side. The victory sent last year’s wooden spoon recipients top of the A-League ladder, with back-to-back wins to start a season for the first time in 13 years.

Then Adelaide United scorched 10-man Melbourne City in a sizzling second half to win 2-0 after City captain Scott Jamieson saw red.

Other scores of note:

• Wellignton Phoenix 1-2 Sydney FC

• Melbourne Victory 1-3 Brisbane Roar

• Tottenham 3-0 Leeds United

• Arsenal 4-0 West Bromwich

• Chelsea 1-3 Man City

All of which means; Liverpool and Man United are joint top on 33 points with both Man City and Tottenham 4 points behind.

🐴 Racing

Sword Of Mercy could be a lightweight chance in the G1 Oakleigh Plate

The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra trained Sword Of Mercy has emerged as a live chance in next months Group One Oakleigh Plate after an impressive win at Caulfield on Saturday.

Sword Of Mercy took twelve starts to break her maiden but has since won five of her last eight starts including two impressive metropolitan wins which has prompted her trainers to look at the Group One Oakeligh Plate next month as a target race. (article)

This good boy loves his racing.

🏉 NRL

Warriors touch down in Sydney ahead of NRL pre-season

The Warriors have officially touched down in Sydney to begin their pre-season in Tamworth.

It has been confirmed that the Warriors will spend a month in Tamworth before relocating to Terrigal on the Central Coast which will serve as their home again, as per 2020.

From March 13 they will play home games against Gold Coast and Newcastle over the first two rounds of the season, before going on the road to take on Canberra and the Roosters.

The only New Zealand based outfit of the NRL, is hoping to head home for their round five clash, however CEO Cameron George, is doubtful suspecting the team will be there a lot longer than the initial three months that have been confirmed since April last year. (nine)

🇦🇺 AFL

Essendon list spot becomes vacant after Irishman Ross McQuillan announces sudden retirement — www.foxsports.com.au

Essendon has lost another Irish recruit in four months, with Ross McQuillan announcing his AFL retirement, effective immediately, after just one full season on the club’s list.

🇺🇸 USA

🏈 College Football

No. 3 Ohio State defeated No. 2 Clemson 49-28 in the Sugar Bowl, setting up a national championship game between two undefeated teams in No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Ohio State on Tuesday.

After finding itself in a 14-0 hole, Ohio State's defense forced three punts in a row and in the second half, the Buckeyes's "D" forced a fumble and an interception, plus another punt and a turnover on downs.

Top-ranked Alabama will have the chance to win its sixth national championship under Nick Saban after the Crimson Tide defeated No. 4 Notre Dame 31-7 in the Rose Bowl Game.

Alabama's three top-10 Heisman Trophy contenders - Quarterback Mac Jones, running back Najee Harris who ran for 125 yards, three touchdowns for DeVonta Smith - were all outstanding.

⛳️ Tiger Woods has an epic backyard at his US$50 million Florida house.

• Private beach

• 100-foot lap pool

• 4 hole golf course

• Boat with ocean access

• Tennis & basketball court

As if that wasn't enough, Tiger also installed a 2nd story tee box off his bedroom. (@JoePompliano)

Aussie star Ben Simmons records another triple double for red-hot Philadelphia 76ers

Aussie star Ben Simmons records another triple double for red-hot Philadelphia 76ers.

🗞 Back on Wednesday!!

📺 Live sport 👇🏼

🎯 06:30 - PDC World Championship Final, Night 16 (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 06:45 - Italian Serie A - Juventus v Udinese (BeIN Sports 1)

🏀 07:00 - NBA Regular Season - Detroit Pistons v Boston Celtics (NBA League Pass or Sky Sports 2)

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Huesca v Barcelona (BeIN Sports 2)

🏈 08:25 - NFL Regular Season - Chicago Bears v Green Bay Packers (ESPN 1)

🏈 08:25 - NFL Regular Season - Los Angeles Rams v Arizona Cardinals (7mate or NFL Game Pass)

🏏 09:00 - Test Match - New Zealand v Pakistan (Fox Cricket)

🏀 10:00 - NBA Regular Season - Brooklyn Nets v Washington Wizards (NBA League Pass or Sky Sports 2)

🏀 11:00 - NCAA Men's Regular Season - Southern Methodist Uni. Mustangs v Houston Cougars (ESPN 2)

🏈 12:20 - NFL Regular Season - Philadelphia Eagles v Washington (ESPN 1)

🏀 12:30 - NBA Regular Season - Golden State Warriors v Portland Trail Blazers (NBA League Pass or Sky Sports 2)

🏏 15:25 - Test Match - New Zealand v Pakistan (Fox Sports)

🏏 16:05 - Big Bash League Group Game - Melbourne Stars v Hobart Hurricanes (Fox Cricket)

🏏 19:00 - Test Match - South Africa v Sri Lanka (Fox Sports)

🏏 19:15 - Big Bash League - Brisbane Heat v Sydney Thunder (Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports or 7)

🏏 22:50 - Test Match - South Africa v Sri Lanka (Fox Cricket)

TUESDAY

⚽️ 01:00 - Indian Super League - Chennaiyin FC v Hyderabad FC (Fox Sports More)

⚽️ 07:00 - Premier League - Southampton v Liverpool (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Valencia v Cadiz CF (BeIN Sports 1)

🏏 09:00 - Test Match - New Zealand v Pakistan (Fox Cricket)

⚾️ 11:00 - ABL Regular Season - Brisbane Bandits v Adelaide Giants (Fox Sports More)

⚾️ 15:00 - ABL Regular Season - Brisbane Bandits v Melbourne Aces (Fox Sports More)

🏏 19:00 - Test Match - South Africa v Sri Lanka (Fox Sports)

🏏 19:15 - Big Bash League - Melbourne Renegades v Adelaide Strikers (Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports or 7)

🏏 22:50 - Test Match - South Africa v Sri Lanka (Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports or 7)