The decision to bring back Josh Hazlewood for Scott Boland has been called into question after the returning quick struggled with a calf injury on day four at The Gabba.

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Hazlewood, who missed the second Test in Adelaide with a side strain, bowled to open day three at the Gabba before succumbing to an unnamed injury and being forced off the field.

It was later confirmed as a calf complaint.

“He reported a calf awareness in this morning’s warm-up and he will be taken for scans to assess the injury,” Isa Guha said on Fox Cricket.

“Very frustrating for Josh Hazlewood.”

Boland starred with the ball at the Adelaide Oval after coming in for the injured Hazlewood for the second Test with five wickets for the match.

England legend Michael Vaughan noted Hazlewood’s struggles on day four at The Gabba, moments before he was forced from the field.

“We have all seen enough bowlers over the years to know that Hazlewood is not right,” Vaughan said on Fox Cricket’s coverage.

“His pace is down. He has clearly got some kind of issue.”

Boland was moments later captured in deep conversation with Australian coach Andrew McDonald in the Australian dugout at The Gabba.

“I’m just not quite sure what is going to happen here with Josh Hazlewood,” Former Aussie Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said.

“Andrew McDonald is saying there to Scott Boland to do some bowling for Melbourne.”

Vaughan, meanwhile, had no doubt Boland will play in the Boxing Day Test.

“Without any question I think we will be seeing Scott Boland at the MCG,” Vaughan said.

“I think Hazlewood I’m not too sure he will bowl much more. Mitchell Marsh can come on and bowl a few.

“He looks ginger like he is really struggling. He’s walking back gingerly. He is just not right.”

Fellow commentator Isa Guha questioned whether Hazlewood pushed to play in Brisbane, knowing he would not be playing in Melbourne anyway.

“They leave no stone unturned when it comes to the bowlers and making sure that they are fit and ready to go and can get through a full Test match,” Guha said.

“Whether Josh Hazlewood felt he wanted to try and get through this Test it was a bit of a risk to take.

“But knowing they had Scott Boland as a reinforcement perhaps for the last two Test matches and given the importance of this one and getting ahead, but yeah not ideal.”

Kerry O’Keeffe believes Australia always had a horses for courses approach for their fast bowlers this series, given Hazlewood and Starc’s historical struggles in Melbourne and Sydney and Boland’s prowess at those same venues.

“Trying to look at the Australian strategy, I think they had in mind that Hazlewood should play this and miss Melbourne,” O’Keeffe said.

“Melbourne is by a long way his worst pitch in Australia and then Starc miss Sydney, which is a long way his worst pitch in Australia.

“So I think they factored in that Australia was going to play this one and that Boland, who loves the MCG would come in for Melbourne.

“And that may well be the case now anyway. The Boland numbers are irresistible.

“But questions will be asked, was he (Hazlewood) fit going into this game?”

Hazlewood spoke to members of the travelling press pack in the afterglow of the Adelaide triumph, about 90 minutes after Australia had squared the series.

The fast bowler was still to prove his fitness for the Brisbane Test but was relaxed and confident in his chances of being able to return.

He had bowled at ¾ pace in the nets the day prior to the Adelaide Test and then again on the Saturday, and was planning a double-session in the nets at Adelaide Oval on Monday.

“I think if this was the last Test of the summer, I could have potentially run the gauntlet and played (but) I think I would have been in a pretty bad state by the end of the game, even though it was only a short game. It just wasn’t quite right,” Hazlewood said.

“It’s not necessarily your typical side strain, which I’ve had a couple in my career, (where) you’re running in to bowl and you just grab your hat and you’re off and you’re out for six weeks. It’s not that sort of side strain. It’s from a sort of repetitive use.

“It’s caused me a lot of trouble over the last few years, but (I had a) perfect prep this year, and played the Shield game and ticked all that off. I was very happy (with) where I was and it still happened. So I was pretty annoyed there for a few days.

“There were plenty of meetings and stuff from CA’s point of view, physios, doctors, all that stuff. (We have) come up with a few options (to) see if we can stop it from happening again.”

Given Hazlewood’s history of side strains, the Australians had been extremely cautious with him when the issue flared on the third day in Perth.

The New South Welshman had been by far the pick of the bowlers in the opening innings but with India seizing control, a decision was made to restrict his overs in the second innings.

As Pat Cummins said, had he continued on, it could have turned what they hoped would be a one week issue into a problem that could threaten to rule him out for the series.

Hazlewood, who snuck away with Mitchell Starc for a training session at Allan Border Oval on the eve of the Gabba Test, stressed he would only play if he felt fit enough to get through.

He was mindful Scott Boland, who bowled superbly in Adelaide, would be available if required. As it stands, the Victorian’s chances of bowling on Boxing Day have soared.

“I’ve ticked every box so far this week. The side’s obviously been a troublesome area for me, in the past, so if I can lean on the side of caution, I guess a little bit, (I’ll do that),” Hazlewood said.

“But it’s very minor compared to the last few I’ve had. Obviously (we have) got Scotty there, who does a fantastic job every time he plays. So I guess that sort of makes the decision a little easier. Sometimes you’ve sort of got to be pretty much 100 per cent to play. And if not, Scott is there (and ready) to go.”