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One might speculate whether Cricket Australia deliberately prefers to be opaque 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, due to the possible movement involving both key players, neither of which has now eventuated.

The unexpected element is Cummins for not being included, with the team skipper and fast-bowling leader progressing in rehabilitation from initial symptoms of a stress fracture. The sole official statement 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 indicate that everything is on track and his recovery remains happily on track, with a probable return to the team in the near future. Theoretically, he might still be added to the Test squad in coming days if deemed fit by staff. But still, something the claims doesn’t add up.

Going back to when his medical tests came back positive in last month, initiating the countdown on his return to play, all official statements 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 victory in the west, he was observed practicing in the state facilities without any apparent limitations and, importantly, was training with a pink ball, what one would assume as readiness for the Brisbane day-night game.

So, why the change of plans, well over a month since Cummins said he would need four weeks to build up bowling loads, and with six days until the first ball in the Gabba? Additionally, there are over a week’s break between matches. If the latter is Cummins’ destination, it will be over two months since he started training again.

This is acceptable: prognoses can change, medical staff can be conservative, players can be cautious. What’s strange is that during the high-profile Test series in Australia’s calendar, the governing body’s representatives don’t appear to consider it necessary to provide any information about the skipper’s condition or the changing nature of either.

And if caution is the watchword with Cummins, the opposite applies with the opener’s issue. He had spasms flare up in Perth during two paltry fielding innings, preventing the regular batsman from playing his role in both innings and from having any influence when he eventually batted. Though he may have improved, 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 logically means he is due to resume the top order, even though Travis Head made a record-setting century in his place. He wouldn’t be selected as a backup or to bat down the order. Once more, there is no official information about this, only the squad listing.

It isn’t necessary that sides must reveal a full lineup when announcing selections, and strategies may shift. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and considering how Head’s whirlwind drew fan interest, it would do no harm to clarify where both batsmen are slotted to play. Some uncertainty in life is a good thing, but manufacturing it out of the broadly obvious is needless. If you’re in the business of winning over audiences, transparency is crucial.