Scott Boland appears a chance for a return to Australia's Test side for the Boxing Day with Josh Hazlewood exiting play in Brisbane on Tuesday with a reported calf injury.
Hazlewood, who reclaimed his spot in the XI previously taken by Boland in Adelaide, bowled just one over to start day four as Australia eye-off claiming a series lead.
In any case, Hazelwood's absence for the remainder of play would make the task all the more difficult for the home side, who are still chasing 15 wickets for a win after posting a first innings total of 445.
The returning quick left the field with figures of 1-22 from six overs, having removed Virat Kohli on Monday.
Hazlewood has reportedly travelled to hospital for scans.
The reported calf concern differs from the side strain which ruled him out of the pink-ball Test in Adelaide.
After being selected to replace Hazlewood, Boland returned for his first Test since the 2023 Ashes Series, and 11th overall, to make an immediate impact.
The Gulidjan seamer finished the match with 5/105, including crucial wickets of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, returning captain Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal to help swing the contest firmly in the hosting side's favour.
On announcing Australia's side for Brisbane, including Boland's omission, skipper Pat Cummins said "I'd be surprised he doesn't get another crack at some point (this summer)".
"He was fantastic in Adelaide. Unfortunately spent quite a bit of time on the bench over the last kind of 18 months, and whenever he plays is fantastic," Cummins said.
"It's a shame for Scotty, but still a fair bit to play out this series, so I'd be surprised he doesn't get another crack at some point."
Boland's previous Test appearances on his home deck in Melbourne include a 3/83 showing against South Africa in 2022, and his iconic spell against England in the Ashes on debut in 2021.
His 6/7 on the morning of day three sealed the series for Australia, plummeting England to 68-all out, and earned Boland the Mullagh Medal as player of the match, named in honour of Indigenous Australian cricketer Johnny Mullagh.
More to come.
