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You could wonder 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 final team composition must be inferred 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.

The unexpected element is Cummins for his omission, with the regular captain and pace spearhead progressing in rehabilitation from initial symptoms of a stress fracture. The only public acknowledgment was a brief mention with the squad release stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to further his training.”

Insider reports indicate that this is all situation normal and his healing is proceeding well, with a likely addition to the side soon. Theoretically, Cummins could even join the Test squad in coming days if deemed fit by staff. However, 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 suggested he would only narrowly miss the first Test and was scheduled to train 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.”

Once Cummins got back to Sydney 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 training with a pink ball, what one would assume as preparation for the day-night Test.

What prompted the shift, more than four weeks since he indicated requiring a month to prepare his workload, and with six days until the first ball in the Gabba? Additionally, there are over a week’s break between matches. Should he target Adelaide, it will be over two months since he resumed bowling.

That in itself is fine: medical opinions evolve, doctors may be cautious, players can be cautious. What’s strange is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Test series in the season, the governing body’s representatives seem not to think it necessary to provide updates about the captain’s fitness and availability or the evolving status of either.

And if caution is the watchword with the captain, the opposite applies with Khawaja’s back injury. He had muscle spasms in the first Test during brief periods on the field, preventing the regular batsman from playing his role in both innings and from making an impact when he did bat down the order. Even if his symptoms have subsided, the fact he’d not experienced them before surely leaves some risk that they might recur in the pressure of Brisbane.

His inclusion suggests he is due to resume the top order, even though his replacement scored a historic hundred in his place. He wouldn’t be selected as a reserve or to play lower. Once more, there is no official information about this, just the selection.

This doesn’t mean that sides must reveal a full lineup when announcing selections, and strategies may shift. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and considering how Travis Head’s explosive performance drew fan interest, it would cause no issue to clarify where those two players are due to bat. Some uncertainty in sports is a good thing, but creating it out of the broadly obvious is unnecessary. If you’re in the business of engaging fans, transparency is crucial.