“The side’s obviously been a troublesome area for me in the past … but it’s very minor compared to the last few I’ve had.

“I think if this was the last Test of the summer, I could have potentially run the gauntlet and played. 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 has 34 wickets this year – more than any of his Australian teammates – and boasts the best average of any bowler in the world (13.35) with more than five wickets.

Boland’s success in Adelaide gives selectors the luxury of not having to rush Hazlewood back. However, the prospect of then dropping Boland for Hazlewood to return for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne would not go down well with Victorian fans, to whom Boland is a local hero.

“In these conditions, pink ball under lights, there’s not many better,” Hazlewood said of Boland. “He just sticks to his guns. He does his job. He doesn’t try and be anyone else. Whether he’s playing for Victoria or Australia, it’s the same thing. We’ve seen him take multiple wickets in an over, so I think once he gets on a roll, it’s just bang, bang, bang.”

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Hazlewood was also asked for his thoughts on suggestions from former Test players Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan that Australia’s dressing room was divided after the team’s defeat in Perth.

After play on day three, a frustrated Hazlewood had been asked what his plans were for the following day, with Australia needing a further 522 runs to beat India.

“You probably have to ask one of the batters that question,” Hazlewood replied.

Hazlewood expressed surprise that his comment had caused such a stir.

“A little bit surprised,” Hazlewood said. “Walking out of that press conference, I thought nothing of it, [it was] a normal one for me. I think obviously the dead air there for a while, 10 days between games, [it was] something to talk about.”

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