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One might speculate whether the Australian cricket board intentionally chooses to be opaque about team selection or simply lacks effectiveness in public relations, but yet again, the fitness of players and the makeup of the XI must be inferred from the 14-player squad announcement for the Brisbane match.

Typically, an unchanged squad would not be much news, but this time it is, thanks to the anticipated changes involving Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, neither of which has now eventuated.

The unexpected element is Cummins for his omission, with the team skipper and fast-bowling leader progressing in rehabilitation from initial symptoms 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 continue his preparations.”

Insider reports support the view that everything is on track and his recovery remains happily on track, with a likely addition to the side soon. Theoretically, he might still be added to the Brisbane squad in the next few days if deemed fit by staff. But still, the explanations seem inconsistent.

Going back to when his medical tests came back positive in October, initiating the countdown on his buildup to match fitness, all public commentary from the bowler himself and timelines from CA indicated he would just be unavailable for 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 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 New South Wales nets without any apparent limitations and, most notably, was training with a pink ball, presumably as readiness for the Brisbane day-night game.

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 the Gabba? Additionally, 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.

That in itself is fine: prognoses can change, medical staff can be conservative, athletes might take care. What’s strange is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Ashes contest in the season, the governing body’s representatives seem not to think it necessary to provide any information about the captain’s fitness and availability or the evolving status of either.

If care is the priority with the captain, the reverse is true with Khawaja’s back injury. He had muscle spasms in Perth during two paltry fielding innings, preventing the regular batsman from playing his role in both innings and from having any influence when he eventually batted. Even if his symptoms have subsided, the fact he’d not experienced them before surely leaves some risk that they could return in the pressure of Brisbane.

His inclusion suggests 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 play lower. But again, there is no official information about this, only the squad listing.

It isn’t necessary that teams should have to give a whole XI when picking their squad, and plans can change. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and given the way Head’s whirlwind drew fan interest, it would cause no issue to clarify where both batsmen are slotted to play. Some uncertainty in life is a good thing, but manufacturing it out of the clearly evident is unnecessary. If you’re in the business of winning over audiences, transparency is crucial.