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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 once again, the fitness of players and the makeup of the XI must be deduced from the 14-player squad announcement for the Brisbane match.

Typically, an unchanged squad 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 come to pass.

Cummins is the surprise for his omission, with the regular captain and pace spearhead deep into his recovery from early signs of a back injury. The sole official statement was a brief mention with the team announcement 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 healing is proceeding well, with a probable return to the side soon. In theory, he might still be added to the Test squad in coming days if he and management so choose. However, something the claims doesn’t add up.

Recalling when his medical tests came back positive in last month, initiating the countdown on his buildup to match fitness, all public commentary from the bowler himself 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. Coach Andrew McDonald said, “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 victory in the west, he was observed practicing in the state facilities without any apparent limitations and, most notably, was training with a pink ball, what one would assume as preparation for the day-night Test.

What prompted the shift, well over a month since he indicated requiring four weeks to build up his workload, and with less than a week to go in Brisbane? Not to mention, there are over a week’s break between Brisbane and the third Test. If the latter is Cummins’ destination, it will be more than seven weeks since he resumed bowling.

This is acceptable: medical opinions evolve, doctors may be cautious, players can be cautious. It’s just peculiar is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Ashes contest in the season, the governing body’s representatives don’t appear to consider it reasonable to share updates about the captain’s fitness and availability or the changing nature of either.

If care is the priority 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 the match and from making an impact when he did bat down the order. Even if his symptoms have subsided, 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 set to return to opening the batting, even though Travis Head made a record-setting century in his place. He wouldn’t be selected as a reserve or to play lower. Once more, there is no official information about this, just the selection.

It isn’t necessary that sides must reveal a whole XI when picking their squad, and plans can change. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and considering how Travis Head’s explosive performance captured public attention, it would do no harm to confirm where both batsmen are due to bat. Some uncertainty in life is a good thing, but manufacturing it out of the broadly obvious is needless. For those aiming of winning over audiences, communication goes a long way.