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You could wonder whether the Australian cricket board deliberately prefers to be opaque about player availability or simply has a deficiency in public relations, but once again, the health status of athletes and final team composition must be inferred from the 14-player squad announcement for the second Ashes Test.

Typically, an unchanged squad would not attract attention, but this time it is, thanks to the anticipated changes involving both key players, neither of which has come to pass.

Cummins is the surprise for not being included, with the regular captain and fast-bowling leader deep into his recovery from early signs of a back injury. The only public acknowledgment was a cursory line with the squad release stating that Cummins is scheduled to go to Brisbane to further his training.”

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 team in the near future. Theoretically, Cummins could even join the Brisbane squad in the next few days if he and management so choose. But still, the explanations seem inconsistent.

Recalling when his medical tests came back positive in October, starting the clock on his buildup to match fitness, all public commentary from the player and board schedules indicated 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, “He will be up and bowling 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 observed practicing in the New South Wales nets without any visible restrictions and, importantly, 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 four weeks to build up bowling loads, and with less than a week to go in Brisbane? Additionally, there are over a week’s break between Brisbane and the third Test. If the latter is Cummins’ destination, it will be over two months since he started training again.

This is acceptable: prognoses can change, medical staff can be conservative, athletes might take care. What’s strange is that during the high-profile Test series in the season, the board officials seem not to think it reasonable to share any information about the skipper’s condition or the changing nature of either.

And if caution is the watchword with Cummins, the reverse is true with the opener’s issue. He had muscle spasms in the first Test during two paltry fielding innings, keeping Australia’s usual opener from doing so in both innings and from having any influence when he did bat down the order. Though he may have improved, the fact he’d not experienced them before creates concern that they might recur in the pressure of Brisbane.

With Khawaja in the squad suggests he is set to return to opening the batting, 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.

It isn’t necessary that sides must reveal a full lineup when announcing selections, and plans can change. But some plans are firmer than others, and given the way Travis Head’s explosive performance drew fan interest, it would cause no issue to confirm where those two players are due to bat. Some uncertainty in sports is a positive, but creating it out of the broadly obvious is needless. For those aiming of engaging fans, communication goes a long way.