Australia will once again make only one change for their crunch third Test against India at the Gabba, with Josh Hazlewood returning from injury at the expense of Scott Boland.

Hazlewood, Australia’s best bowler in the disastrous first Test loss before missing the second Test in Adelaide due to a side strain, successfully proved his fitness during the week, despite an unusual scene on Thursday afternoon where he was taken away from the Gabba in a van with Mitchell Starc and bowling coach Daniel Vettori – later confirmed to have been a trip to Allan Border Field to allow them to bowl off their full run-ups.

Hazlewood’s return extends his record-breaking partnership with Cummins, Starc and Nathan Lyon, with the star quartet set to play their 30th Test together.

But it means another omission for Boland, his sixth in Test cricket, despite continuing his outstanding record in Australia with five key wickets in their ten-wicket win in Adelaide.

“He was fantastic in Adelaide – unfortunately he’s spent quite a lot of time on the bench in the last 18 months. Whenever he plays he’s fantastic,” Cummins said on Friday of the 35-year old.

“It’s a shame for Scotty, but there’s still a fair bit to play out this series, so I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t get another crack at some point.”

Hazlewood’s return is nevertheless a major boost for Australia, having claimed four wickets in the first innings in Perth and been the only bowler to rein in India’s aggressive second innings.

According to Cummins, there are no lingering concerns over his fitness, despite a chequered injury history.

“He’s had no hiccups,” he said.

“[He] had a really good bowl yesterday, had a good bowl in Adelaide a couple of days ago.

“Him and the medical team are super confident.”

Once a fortress, the so-called ‘Gabbatoir’ has not been as happy a hunting ground as it used to be for Australia in recent times.

After failing to lose a Test at the venue between 1988 and 2020, India’s famous win in the final Test of the 2020/21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy has since been followed by the West Indies’ thrilling win in Brisbane in January.

With the series squared at 1-1 and conditions in Melbourne and Sydney expected to be more favourable to India, who haven’t lost a Test at either venue since the 2011/12 series, Australia will be desperate to take a 2-1 lead at the Gabba.

Australia third Test XI

Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.