Australian right-arm quick Josh Hazlewood is likely to make a return in the third Test of the Border Gavaskar trophy 2024-25 in Brisbane starting on December 14. The 33-year-old missed out on the day-night pink-ball Test which was held in Adelaide.

Scott Boland was called up as his replacement and he had a devastating impact on the tourists as he finished the game with combined figures of 5-104. Hazlewood's re-inclusion in the lineup can trigger a selection headache for the Australian think tank since there is very little to separate the two pacers based on their recent performances. 

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Hazlewood put through the paces in Adelaide

During the course of the second BGT Test in Adelaide, Hazlewood underwent a rigorous fitness test and was put through the paces. Although he toiled hard and went through extended spells without facing major difficulties, how he shapes up in the next 24 hours will determine his availability for selection.

So far, Hazlewood seems to be happy with how his body is responding to the workload but stresses that the next 24 hours will hold the key to determining his fate for the remainder of the series. 

"I think it'll be how I pull up in the 24 hours following it really. "Obviously two spells makes a big difference. Cooling down pretty much fully and then going again in the same day, and the intensity has got to be right up there as well. So a few boxes to tick, but it's probably the 24 hours that follow and pulling up again the next day and then thinking 'yeah, I'd be right to go again if I had to."

Hazlewood's past encounters with injury scares

Hazlewood has been plagued with a myriad of injury scares throughout his international career. The 33-year-old pacer has had to contend with injury problems and had to stay low between 2021 and 2023, a period in which he made only three Test match appearances. 

Although some of his omissions have been attributed to specific conditions, there were also two separate episodes of side issues that ruled him out of key Ashes games as well as the World Test Championship final against India last year. 

According to the fast bowler, the current injury felt different, and if it had been the last Test of the series, he might have backed himself to play in Adelaide. 

The ongoing five-match BGT Test series has come to life after Australia managed to stun India by 10 wickets in Adelaide to level the series 1-1. The attention now moves to Brisbane where Australia is likely to maintain their domination. With the World Test Championship (WTC) final on the horizon, the upcoming Brisbane fixture is of utmost importance for both sides.