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One might speculate whether Cricket Australia intentionally chooses to be unclear about player availability or simply has a deficiency in communications, but once again, the health status of athletes and final team composition must be deduced from the 14-player squad announcement for the Brisbane match.

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, neither of which has now eventuated.

Cummins is the surprise for not being included, with the team skipper and fast-bowling leader deep into his recovery from early signs of a back injury. The sole official statement was a cursory line with the squad release stating that Cummins is scheduled to go to Brisbane to further his training.”

Insider reports indicate that everything is on track and his healing is proceeding well, with a likely addition to the team in the near future. Theoretically, Cummins could even join the Brisbane squad in coming days if deemed fit by staff. But still, the explanations seem inconsistent.

Recalling when Cummins’ scans were cleared in October, initiating the countdown on his return to play, all public commentary from the bowler himself and timelines from CA suggested he would just be unavailable for the initial match and was set to practice at close to full intensity with the squad in Perth. Coach Andrew McDonald said, “He will be up and bowling in Perth, and fans will wonder why he’s not playing.”

Once Cummins got back to his home city following the team’s raucous two-day win, he was seen bowling in the state facilities without any visible restrictions and, importantly, was using a pink Kookaburra ball, presumably as readiness for the Brisbane day-night game.

So, why the change of plans, well over a month since Cummins said he would need a month to prepare his workload, and with six days until the first ball in Brisbane? Additionally, there are over a week’s break between Brisbane and the third Test. Should he target Adelaide, it will be more than seven weeks since he started training again.

That in itself is fine: prognoses can change, medical staff can be conservative, athletes might take care. What’s strange is that during the high-profile Ashes contest in the season, the board officials seem not to think it necessary to provide updates about the skipper’s condition or the evolving status of either.

If care is the priority with the captain, 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 playing his role in the match and from making an impact when he did bat down the order. Though he may have improved, the fact he’d not experienced them before creates concern that they could return in the heat of the next Test.

With Khawaja in the squad logically means he is due to resume opening the batting, even though Travis Head made a record-setting century in Perth. Khawaja wouldn’t be picked as a backup or to bat down the order. But again, there is no confirmation about this, only the squad listing.

This doesn’t mean that sides must reveal a whole XI when announcing selections, and strategies may shift. 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 life is a positive, but creating it out of the clearly evident is needless. If you’re in the business of winning over audiences, transparency is crucial.