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One might speculate whether the Australian cricket board deliberately prefers to be unclear about player availability or simply lacks effectiveness in public relations, but yet again, the fitness of players and the makeup of the XI must be inferred from the selection in the larger squad for the second Ashes Test.

Normally, an identical team list would not be much news, but this time it is, due to the anticipated changes involving Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, none of which has now eventuated.

The unexpected element is Cummins for not being included, with the regular captain and pace spearhead deep into his recovery from initial symptoms of a stress fracture. The only public acknowledgment 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 everything is on track and his healing is proceeding well, with a probable return to the team in the near future. In theory, he might still be added to the Brisbane squad in coming days if deemed fit by staff. However, the explanations seem inconsistent.

Going back to when Cummins’ scans were cleared in last month, initiating the countdown on his buildup to match fitness, all public commentary from the player and board schedules indicated he would only narrowly miss the first Test and was set to practice 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 seen bowling in the New South Wales nets without any apparent limitations and, importantly, was training with a pink ball, presumably as preparation for the day-night Test.

So, why the change of plans, more than four weeks since Cummins said he would need four weeks to build up bowling loads, and with less than a week to go in Brisbane? Not to mention, there are eight more days of rest between matches. Should he target Adelaide, it will be over two months since he resumed bowling.

That in itself is fine: prognoses can change, medical staff can be conservative, athletes might take care. What’s strange is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Test series in Australia’s calendar, the governing body’s representatives don’t appear to consider it necessary to provide updates about the skipper’s condition or the changing nature of either.

If care is the priority with Cummins, the opposite applies with the opener’s issue. He had muscle spasms in Perth during two paltry fielding innings, keeping Australia’s usual opener from doing so in both innings and from making an impact when he eventually batted. Even if his symptoms have subsided, the fact he’d not experienced them before creates concern that they could return in the heat of the next Test.

His inclusion logically means he is due to resume the top order, even though his replacement scored a historic hundred in his place. Khawaja wouldn’t be picked as a backup or to bat down the order. Once more, there is no confirmation about this, just the selection.

It isn’t necessary that teams should have to give a full lineup when announcing selections, and plans can change. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and considering how Head’s whirlwind drew fan interest, it would cause no issue to clarify where those two players are due to bat. A bit of mystery in life is a good thing, but creating it out of the clearly evident is unnecessary. If you’re in the business of engaging fans, communication goes a long way.