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One might speculate whether the Australian cricket board deliberately prefers to be opaque about team selection or simply lacks effectiveness in public relations, but once again, the fitness of players and the makeup of the XI must be deduced from the 14-player squad announcement 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 come to pass.

Cummins is the surprise for his omission, with the regular captain and fast-bowling leader deep into his recovery from early signs of a stress fracture. The sole official statement was a brief mention with the squad release stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to further his training.”

Insider reports indicate that everything is on track and his healing is proceeding well, with a likely addition to the side soon. Theoretically, he might still be added to the Brisbane squad in coming days if he and management so choose. But still, something the claims doesn’t add up.

Going back to when his medical tests came back positive in October, starting the clock on his return to play, all public commentary from the player and board schedules suggested he would just be unavailable for the initial match and was scheduled to train at close to full intensity 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.”

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, most notably, was using a pink Kookaburra ball, what one would assume as preparation for the day-night Test.

So, why the change of plans, more than four weeks since he indicated requiring four weeks to build up his workload, and with less than a week to go in Brisbane? Not to mention, there are eight more days of rest between matches. If the latter is Cummins’ destination, it will be over two months since he started training again.

This is acceptable: prognoses can change, doctors may be cautious, players can be cautious. What’s strange is that during the high-profile Test series in the season, the board officials don’t appear to consider it necessary to provide updates about the skipper’s condition or the changing nature of either.

If care is the priority with Cummins, the reverse is true with the opener’s issue. He had muscle spasms in Perth during two paltry fielding innings, keeping Australia’s usual opener from playing his role in both innings and from having any influence when he eventually batted. Though he may have improved, the fact he’d not experienced them before surely leaves some risk that they might recur in the heat of the next Test.

His inclusion suggests he is set to return to the top order, even though his replacement scored a historic hundred in Perth. Khawaja wouldn’t be picked as a reserve or to bat down the order. But again, there is no official information about this, only the squad listing.

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 considering how Travis Head’s explosive performance captured public attention, it would cause no issue to confirm where those two players are slotted to play. Some uncertainty in life is a good thing, but creating it out of the clearly evident is needless. For those aiming of engaging fans, communication goes a long way.