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One might speculate whether the Australian cricket board deliberately prefers to be unclear about player availability or simply has a deficiency in communications, but yet again, the health status of athletes and final team composition must be deduced from the selection in the larger squad for the second Ashes Test.

Normally, an identical team list would not attract attention, but this time it is, thanks to the possible movement involving Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, none of which has come to pass.

Cummins is the surprise for not being included, with the regular captain and fast-bowling leader deep into his recovery from early signs of a stress fracture. The only public acknowledgment was a brief mention with the squad release stating that Cummins is scheduled to go to Brisbane to continue his preparations.”

Suggestions from within CA support the view that this is all situation normal and his recovery remains happily on track, with a probable return to the side soon. Theoretically, Cummins could even join 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 October, starting the clock on his buildup to match fitness, all official statements from the bowler himself and timelines from CA suggested he would only narrowly miss the first Test and was set to practice at close to full intensity with the squad in Perth. The head coach remarked, “Cummins will be fit to bowl in Perth, and people will be sitting there questioning why he’s not playing.”

After returning to his home city following the team’s raucous two-day win, he was observed practicing in the New South Wales nets without any apparent limitations and, importantly, was using a pink Kookaburra ball, presumably 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 less than a week to go in the Gabba? Not to mention, there are eight more days of rest between matches. Should he target Adelaide, it will be more than seven weeks since he resumed bowling.

This is acceptable: medical opinions evolve, medical staff can be conservative, players can be cautious. What’s strange is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Ashes contest in Australia’s calendar, the governing body’s representatives seem not to think it reasonable to share any information about the skipper’s condition or the evolving status of either.

If care is the priority with Cummins, the opposite applies with Khawaja’s back injury. He had muscle spasms in Perth during brief periods on the field, keeping Australia’s usual opener from doing so in both innings and from having any influence when he eventually batted. Even if his symptoms have subsided, the fact he’d not experienced them before surely leaves some risk that they could return in the pressure of Brisbane.

With Khawaja in the squad logically means he is set to return to the top order, even though his replacement scored a historic hundred in his place. He wouldn’t be selected as a backup or to play lower. But again, there is no confirmation about this, just the selection.

This doesn’t mean that sides must reveal a whole XI when picking their squad, and plans can change. But some plans are firmer than others, and considering how Travis Head’s explosive performance captured public attention, it would cause no issue to confirm where those two players are slotted to play. A bit of mystery in sports is a good thing, but manufacturing it out of the broadly obvious is needless. For those aiming of engaging fans, transparency is crucial.