Josh Hazlewood will replace Scott Boland for Australia in the third Test against India

Despite winning the second Test in Adelaide, Australia will make a single change to its line-up for the third clash with India in Brisbane.

Australian captain Pat Cummins has hinted that paceman Scott Boland still has a role to play in the Test series against India despite being sacrificed for the returning Josh Hazlewood for the Gabba battle starting on Saturday.

Cummins confirmed on Friday that Hazlewood had been recalled to Australia’s 11 after recovering from the side strain that forced him to miss the team’s 10-wicket second Test win in Adelaide.

In Hazlewood’s absence, Boland made the most of a rare opportunity, taking five wickets across India’s innings in his role of bowling support to new-ball pair Cummins and Mitch Starc.

However, as has often been the case, the Victorian quick is again the odd man out when Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood are available.

“It’s tough ­– (Boland) was fantastic in Adelaide,” Cummins said ahead of the third Test, which looms as pivotal in a five-game series that is locked at 1-1.

“Unfortunately, he has spent quite a bit of time on the bench over the last 18 months, and whenever he plays, he’s fantastic, so it’s a shame for Scotty, but there’s still a fair bit to play out in this series, so I’d be surprised if he doesn’t get another crack at some point.”

Josh Hazlewood is back for the third Test. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

That could potentially be as early as the Boxing Day Test on Boland’s home ground, the MCG, where Boland has tasted great success as a Test bowler including his famous 6/7 on debut against England in 2021.

The final three Tests of the series will be played across a 25-day period and Cummins said he expected Boland to be used again at some point.

“He’s amazing every time he plays, and we absolutely love him around the group,” Cummins said.

“It’s just about preparing … because there’s a good chance we might need (him).

“There’s always some form of natural attrition throughout the Test series. The good thing is that he’s probably played a Test earlier in the series that he maybe thought coming into the series.

“He’s shown that his standard’s still super high. He knows he can take wickets against these guys, so it’s just about setting him up for those last two Test matches.”

Cummins also starred with the ball at Adelaide Oval, particularly in the tourists’ second innings of 175 when he took 5-57 as India failed to cope with his short-pitched bowling.

Scott Boland is out of the Australian Test team despite taking five wickets in Adelaide. Picture: William West / AFP

A repeat of those tactics loom on the bouncy Gabba wicket.

“I’m sure we’ll give it a shot at some point,” Cummins said.

“It worked out in the Adelaide Test, so it’s always in the back of your mind as a bit of a `Plan B’, or if they’re looking really uncomfortable, and it’s likely to take wickets, maybe it becomes `Plan A’ to some of the batters.”

To ensure the best preparation possible for Australia’s pace bowlers, Starc and Hazlewood trained at Allan Border Field rather than with the rest of the team at the Gabba nets, where their run-ups are restricted.

“We’ve done it most years. It’s only about 25 metres at the back of the Gabba, where you get full run-ups at AB Field,” Cummins said.

“They were going to bowl yesterday morning, it was still damp, so the nets got pushed back to the afternoon, hence why it kind of clashed with the main training session. There’s nothing more to it.”