Hazlewood returns, but Boland's summer far from over

Scott Boland has been told to expect a return to the Test team in Melbourne or Sydney, after Australia's unluckiest cricketer was again forced to make way for a fit-again Josh Hazlewood in Brisbane.

Hazlewood was on Friday officially declared fit for the third Test against India, after overcoming the side strain issue that ruled him out of the team's win in Adelaide.

His return for Saturday's third Test comes as a massive boost for Australia, with the series locked at 1-1 and their frontline bowling attack all available for a green-looking Gabba wicket.

"Josh and the medical team are super confident," captain Pat Cummins said.

"He's had no hiccups. He had a really good bowl yesterday, had another good bowl in Adelaide a few days previous."

Australia had taken a cautious approach with Hazlewood, with a feeling he could have played in Adelaide if it was the last Test of the summer.

Cummins also opted against bowling him late in the third innings in Perth, as soon as signs of discomfort in his problematic side emerged.

It is that same cautious approach that also has Cummins believing it is likely Boland will play again this summer in either Melbourne or Brisbane.

Australia's performances have traditionally tapered as longer series go on, while questions have long lingered about the three quicks being able to play unchanged.

The final three Tests of this series in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney will be played across a 25-day period, potentially opening the door for another Boland return.

The Victorian could rightly claim to be one of Australia's unluckiest players this century.

His average of 20.42 is the fifth best of any Australian bowler with 40 or more wickets.

But such is the dominance of Australia's big-three quicks, he has only been picked for 11 of the 34 Tests since his spectacular 2021 Boxing Day debut against England.

And at age 35, his chances are realistically running out.

"I would be surprised if he doesn't get another crack at some point," Cummins said of Boland.

"(We've told him) it's just about preparing for the MCG because it is a good chance we might need you.

"History suggests there is always some form of natural attrition throughout a Test series.

"So the good thing, he's probably played a Test earlier in the series than he thought coming into it. He's shown that his standard is still super high.

"You know he is going to take wickets against those guys, so it's about trying to set him up for the last two Test matches."

India were yet to confirm their team on Friday, but pace ace Jasprit Bumrah is expected to play after bowling through a groin niggle in the nets on Thursday.

There also remains some potential Rohit Sharma could move back to the top of the order, in a bid to end his form slump.

Cummins insisted Australia had been more consistent than results would suggest over the first two Tests.

The hosts were beaten by 295 runs by India in Perth, before their thumping 10-wicket win in Adelaide.

"A couple of key moments can really compound and make the game look further apart than what they were," Cummins said.

"If you get through that first evening in Perth, maybe the sun is out and you've got a first-innings lead in that game and it looks a little different.

"In Adelaide, the way Nathan (McSweeney) and Marnus (Labuschagne) got through that first evening, it allowed Trav and a few others guys to cash in the next day.

"It's those key moments, getting through them and really setting up the game."

AUSTRALIA SIDE FOR THIRD TEST: Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.