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One might speculate whether Cricket Australia deliberately prefers to be unclear about player availability or simply lacks effectiveness in communications, but yet again, the health status of athletes and final team composition must be deduced from the 14-player squad announcement for the second Ashes Test.

Typically, an unchanged squad would not attract attention, but on this occasion it is, due to the possible movement involving both key players, neither of which has now eventuated.

Cummins is the surprise for not being included, with the team skipper and pace spearhead deep into his recovery from early signs of a back injury. The sole official statement was a cursory line with the team announcement stating that Cummins is scheduled to go to Brisbane to continue his preparations.”

Suggestions from within CA indicate that this is all situation normal and his healing is proceeding well, with a likely addition 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, the explanations seem inconsistent.

Recalling when Cummins’ scans were cleared in last month, starting the clock on his return to play, all public commentary from the bowler himself and board schedules indicated he would only narrowly miss the first Test and was scheduled to train at close to full intensity with the team during the match. Coach Andrew McDonald said, “Cummins will be fit to bowl 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 New South Wales nets without any visible restrictions and, importantly, was training with a pink ball, presumably as preparation for the day-night Test.

So, why the change of plans, more than four weeks since Cummins said he would need four weeks to build up his workload, and with six days until the first ball in Brisbane? Additionally, 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, 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 skipper’s condition or the changing nature of either.

If care is the priority with the captain, the opposite applies 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 both innings and from having any influence when he eventually batted. Though he may have improved, the newness of the problem surely leaves some risk that they could return in the pressure of Brisbane.

His inclusion suggests he is set to return to opening the batting, even though his replacement scored a historic hundred in his place. Khawaja wouldn’t be picked as a backup or to play lower. But again, there is no official information about this, just the selection.

It isn’t necessary that teams should have to give a whole XI when announcing selections, and strategies may shift. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and given the way Travis Head’s explosive performance captured public attention, it would cause no issue to clarify where both batsmen are slotted to play. Some uncertainty in sports is a positive, but creating it out of the clearly evident is needless. If you’re in the business of engaging fans, communication goes a long way.