1 change in bowling lineup as Australia announce playing 11 for BGT 2024-25 3rd Test

Despite a promising performance in the second Test against India in Adelaide, Scott Boland will make way for Josh Hazlewood in Australia's playing XI for the third game of the series in Brisbane. Hazlewood missed the pink-ball Test after suffering a side strain during the opening contest in Perth.

The right-arm seamer was Australia's best bowler in the Perth Test amid the hosts' 295-run drubbing. He picked up four wickets in the first innings of that match and conceded only 28 runs in 21 overs alongside a solitary scalp in the second. The 33-year-old's replacement, Boland, snared five wickets in Adelaide, including dismissing Virat Kohli in the second innings to help the home side level the series.

Hazlewood has a promising record at the Gabba, claiming 37 wickets in eight Tests at 23.76, including two fifers.

Australia's Playing XI: Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

"We made the call then that it probably wasn't worth the risk" - Australian captain reveals the extent of Josh Hazlewood's injury in Perth

Pat Cummins. (Image Credits: Getty)

Speaking at a presser ahead of the third Test, Pat Cummins recalled that Hazlewood has overexterted himself on numerous occasions in Test cricket. However, the 31-year-old felt that given the state of the first Test in Perth, it wasn't worth the risk. He said, as quoted by cricket.com.au:

"It was later on in that second innings. Fair to say we probably thought the game was starting to slip away. We still needed six or seven wickets and we were about 400 behind. We've seen it a few times where Josh has pushed through to get through a Test match and a little bit of soreness turns into a month or two of injury. So we made the call then that it probably wasn't worth the risk of keeping him bowling. I think he bowled an extra two overs leading into a tea break and he said it felt ok, but I just kind of thought from there, 'that's enough'".

Team India had beaten Australia the last time these two sides faced in Brisbane to seal a famous 2-1 series win.