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One might speculate whether the Australian cricket board deliberately prefers to be unclear about team selection or simply has a deficiency in communications, but yet again, the fitness of players and the makeup of the XI must be deduced from the 14-player squad announcement for the Brisbane match.

Normally, an unchanged squad would not attract attention, but on this occasion it is, thanks to the anticipated changes involving both key players, none of which has now eventuated.

The unexpected element is Cummins for his omission, with the team skipper and pace spearhead deep into his recovery from early signs of a stress fracture. The only public acknowledgment was a cursory line with the squad release stating that “Pat Cummins will travel 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 likely addition to the side soon. In theory, he might still be added to the Brisbane squad in the next few days if he and management so choose. However, something the claims doesn’t add up.

Recalling when his medical tests came back positive in October, 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 scheduled to train at nearly full tilt with the squad in Perth. Coach Andrew McDonald said, “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 state facilities without any visible restrictions and, most notably, was using a pink Kookaburra ball, what one would assume as readiness for the Brisbane day-night game.

So, why the change of plans, more than four weeks since he indicated requiring four weeks to build up his workload, and with six days until the first ball in the Gabba? Not to mention, there are over a week’s break between matches. Should he target Adelaide, it will be over two months since he started training again.

This is acceptable: prognoses can change, doctors may be cautious, players can be cautious. What’s strange is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Ashes contest in Australia’s calendar, the board officials don’t appear to consider it necessary to provide any information about the captain’s fitness and availability or the changing nature of either.

If care is the priority with the captain, the opposite applies with Khawaja’s back injury. He had muscle spasms in the first Test during brief periods on the field, preventing the regular batsman from doing so in the match and from making an impact when he eventually batted. Though he may have improved, the fact he’d not experienced them before surely leaves some risk that they might recur in the heat of the next Test.

His inclusion suggests he is due to resume the top order, even though Travis Head made a record-setting century in Perth. He wouldn’t be selected as a backup or to play lower. Once more, there is no official information about this, only the squad listing.

This doesn’t mean that teams should have to give a full lineup when picking their squad, and plans can change. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and considering how Head’s whirlwind drew fan interest, it would do no harm to confirm where those two players are due to bat. Some uncertainty in sports is a positive, but manufacturing it out of the clearly evident is needless. If you’re in the business of winning over audiences, transparency is crucial.