Australia announce shock change to XI for third Test vs India

Australian skipper Pat Cummins has confirmed the squad for the upcoming third Test with a cult hero being brutally left out.

Australian have confirmed one key change to their XI for the third Test against India with Josh Hazlewood returning to the line-up.

The Aussie quick missed the second Test in Adelaide, replaced by Victorian cult hero Scott Boland who has sensationally been dropped.

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Pat Cummins confirmed the change to the team would be the only one after Australia levelled the series up at 1-1.

“Josh Hazlewood comes back. He’s had no hiccups, he had a really good bowl yesterday and a few days previous,” captain Pat Cummins confirmed on Friday.

Boland will feel hard done by after claiming five wickets in the pink ball Test in what was his first outing in the baggy green since Headingley in last year’s Ashes series.

“It’s tough (for Boland). He was fantastic in Adelaide and unfortunately he’s spent quite a lot of time on the bench in the last 18 months and whenever he plays he’s fantastic,” Cummins said.

“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.”

Scotty’s gotta go. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Hazlewood earlier said the injury, one which ails plenty of bowlers, was not as bad as it could have been and he would be good to go in Brisbane.

“It’s not necessarily your typical side strain, which I’ve had a couple in my career,” he said.

“You’re running into 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 sort of repetitive use.

“It’s caused me a lot of trouble over the last few years, but perfect prep this year, and played the shield game and ticked all that off.”

Hazlewood said he had been “pretty annoyed” after initial hurting himself but knew he needed to miss a game.

“I was very happy where I was and it still happened,” he said.

“So I was pretty annoyed there for a few days. There was plenty of meetings and stuff from CA’s point of view, physios, doctors, all that stuff. So (we had to) come up with a few options and see if we can stop it from happening again.”

Hazlewood returns. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

While the Aussie’s have locked in their XI, there are fears for India with star bowler Jasprit Bumrah reportedly under a fitness cloud.

“There’s got to be some serious doubts,” former Australian pacer Damien Fleming said of Bumrah’s fitness on SEN Radio.

“Siraj might be workload (related) but I’m bemused Bumrah bowled that over. They could have hid this. They showed their hand.

“There’s no way that’s cramp. He was very ginger after the break in the first innings. He bowled again, not quite as slow second innings. I don’t even know why he bowled that over (in the second innings). That actually gave some secrets away to everyone.”

The third Test will commence on Saturday at the Gabba.