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One might speculate whether Cricket Australia intentionally chooses to be unclear about player availability or simply lacks effectiveness in communications, but yet again, the health status of athletes and the makeup of the XI must be deduced from the selection in the larger squad for the second Ashes Test.

Typically, an unchanged squad would not be much news, 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 his omission, with the team skipper and fast-bowling leader progressing in rehabilitation from initial symptoms of a stress fracture. The sole official statement was a brief mention with the team announcement stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to further his training.”

Suggestions from within CA indicate that everything is on track 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 coming days if he and management so choose. But still, something the claims doesn’t add up.

Recalling when Cummins’ scans were cleared in October, starting the clock on his return to play, all public commentary from the player and board schedules suggested he would only narrowly miss the first Test and was set to practice at nearly full tilt with the squad in Perth. The head coach remarked, “Cummins will be fit to bowl in Perth, and people will be sitting there questioning 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 apparent limitations and, importantly, was using a pink Kookaburra ball, presumably as readiness for the Brisbane day-night game.

What prompted the shift, well over a month since he indicated requiring four weeks to build up bowling loads, and with six days until the first ball in Brisbane? Not to mention, there are eight more days of rest between matches. Should he target Adelaide, it will be over two months since he started training again.

This is acceptable: medical opinions evolve, doctors may be cautious, players can be cautious. What’s strange is that during the high-profile Test series in Australia’s calendar, the governing body’s representatives seem not to think it necessary to provide 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 Khawaja’s back injury. He had muscle spasms in Perth during brief periods on the field, preventing the regular batsman from playing his role in both innings and from making an impact 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 heat of the next Test.

With Khawaja in the squad suggests he is set to return to opening the batting, even though Travis Head made a record-setting century in his place. Khawaja wouldn’t be picked as a backup or to play lower. But again, there is no confirmation about this, only the squad listing.

This doesn’t mean that sides must reveal a full lineup when picking their squad, and strategies may shift. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and given the way Head’s whirlwind drew fan interest, it would cause no issue to confirm where both batsmen are due to bat. Some uncertainty in sports is a positive, but creating it out of the clearly evident is unnecessary. For those aiming of winning over audiences, communication goes a long way.