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

Typically, an unchanged squad would not be much news, but on this occasion it is, due 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 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 squad release stating that Cummins is scheduled to go to Brisbane to further his training.”

Insider reports support the view that everything is on track and his healing is proceeding well, with a likely addition to the team in the near future. In theory, he might still be added to the Test squad in coming days if he and management so choose. 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 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 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 team’s raucous two-day win, he was seen bowling in the state facilities without any visible restrictions and, most notably, 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 he indicated requiring a month to prepare 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. If the latter is Cummins’ destination, it will be more than seven weeks since he started training again.

That in itself is fine: medical opinions evolve, doctors may be cautious, athletes might take care. 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 updates about the captain’s fitness and availability or the evolving status of either.

And if caution is the watchword with the captain, the reverse is true with the opener’s issue. He had spasms flare up in Perth during brief periods on the field, preventing the regular batsman from playing his role in the match and from having any influence when he eventually batted. Though he may have improved, the newness of the problem creates concern that they could return in the pressure of Brisbane.

With Khawaja in the squad suggests he is due to resume the top order, even though his replacement scored a historic hundred in his place. He wouldn’t be selected as a backup or to bat down the order. But again, there is no official information about this, just the selection.

This doesn’t mean that sides must reveal a whole XI when announcing selections, and plans can change. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and given the way Head’s whirlwind drew fan interest, it would do no harm to confirm where those two players are due to bat. A bit of mystery in sports is a positive, but manufacturing it out of the broadly obvious is needless. For those aiming of engaging fans, transparency is crucial.