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Sean Abbott would happily soak up a COVID-19 vaccine if he keeps his spot in the Test squad for the tour of South Africa.
The all-rounder would also give up his spot in the Aussie T20 team which will be playing in New Zealand at the same time, putting a baggy green cap at the top of his priority list.
Abbott spent the entire Test series against India as part of the squad without getting a debut and finally got to roll his arm over for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash last Sunday.
Just the second man to take 100 BBL wickets, Abbott will be a key part of his team’s pursuit of back-to–back titles, a campaign which could hinge on Tuesday’s final regular season game against the Melbourne Stars at the MCG.
But at the conclusion of the Big Bash there are dual Australian tours which he could be in contention for.
Selection in the Test squad means going to coronavirus-riddled South Africa next month and potentially taking the vaccine, should Cricket Australia be successful in jumping the queue.
Despite the country battling a contagious new strain of the virus, Cricket South Africa is still set to host Australia in March.
It would also mean forsaking his recently regained spot in the national T20 team, which will be playing the Kiwis in a three-game series, but Abbott knows which one he would take.
“I’m not in the privileged position to have a choice and tell JL (coach Justin Langer) I want to go here or there,” Abbott said on Monday.
“I know I played the last (T20) game against India but I probably didn’t perform the way I wanted.
“But in saying that the dream is always to play test cricket and I can’t play Test cricket if I am in New Zealand.
“I would definitely prefer to be going to South Africa. Hopefully selection goes well and I am one or the other.”
Abbott said he would have no issues taking the COVID vaccine, or going to South Africa, which has recorded over 1 million cases, and more than 40,000 deaths.
“If the doctor tells me it’s all safe and I need to get it to go and play test cricket that’s fine. I’ll obviously, run it past my girlfriend to make sure she is OK with it as well,” he said.
“While I’m not up to date with everything, I don’t know the ins and outs, I’m not a doctor, they wouldn’t send us over unless there were 100 per cent certain they could keep us safe.
“There‘s ’s some staggering numbers coming out but I’ll back the medical staff fully.”
The Australian squad is expected to play three Tests in South Africa in March and April.
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