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One might speculate whether the Australian cricket board deliberately prefers to be unclear about team selection or simply lacks effectiveness in communications, but once again, the fitness of players and final team composition must be inferred from the selection in the larger squad for the second Ashes Test.

Typically, an unchanged squad would not be much news, but this time it is, thanks to the anticipated changes involving Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, none of which has now eventuated.

The unexpected element is Cummins for his omission, with the regular captain and fast-bowling leader deep into his recovery from early signs of a stress fracture. The sole official statement was a brief mention with the team announcement stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to continue his preparations.”

Suggestions from within CA indicate that this is all situation normal and his healing is proceeding well, with a likely addition to the side soon. In theory, he might still be added to the Test squad in coming days if deemed fit by staff. But still, the explanations seem inconsistent.

Recalling when his medical tests came back positive in October, starting the clock on his return to play, all public commentary from the player and timelines from CA indicated he would just be unavailable for the initial match and was scheduled to train at nearly full tilt with the squad in Perth. The head coach remarked, “Cummins will be fit to bowl in Perth, and fans will wonder why he’s not playing.”

After returning to Sydney following the team’s raucous two-day win, he was observed practicing in the New South Wales nets without any visible restrictions and, most notably, was training with a pink ball, what one would assume as readiness for the Brisbane day-night game.

What prompted the shift, well over a month since he indicated requiring four weeks to build up bowling loads, and with six days until the first ball in Brisbane? Additionally, there are over a week’s break between matches. If the latter is Cummins’ destination, it will be more than seven weeks since he started training again.

This is acceptable: medical opinions evolve, doctors may be cautious, players can be cautious. What’s strange is that during the high-profile Ashes contest in the season, the governing body’s representatives seem not to think it necessary to provide any information about the skipper’s condition or the evolving status of either.

And if caution is the watchword with Cummins, the reverse is true with Khawaja’s back injury. He had spasms flare up in Perth during two paltry fielding innings, preventing the regular batsman from playing his role in the match and from having any influence when he did bat down the order. Even if his symptoms have subsided, the fact he’d not experienced them before surely leaves some risk that they could return in the heat of the next Test.

With Khawaja in the squad suggests he is set to return to the top order, even though Travis Head made a record-setting century in his place. He wouldn’t be selected as a reserve or to bat down the order. But again, there is no official information about this, only the squad listing.

It isn’t necessary that teams should have to give a full lineup when announcing selections, and strategies may shift. But some plans are firmer than others, and considering how Head’s whirlwind drew fan interest, it would do no harm to clarify where both batsmen are due to bat. Some uncertainty in sports is a positive, but manufacturing it out of the broadly obvious is unnecessary. For those aiming of winning over audiences, transparency is crucial.