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One might speculate whether the Australian cricket board deliberately prefers to be unclear about player availability or simply has a deficiency in public relations, but yet 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 identical team list would not attract attention, but this time it is, thanks to the anticipated changes involving Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, none of which has now eventuated.

Cummins is the surprise for his omission, with the team skipper and pace spearhead progressing in rehabilitation from early signs of a back injury. The sole official statement was a cursory line with the squad release stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to further his training.”

Insider reports support the view that this is all situation normal and his recovery remains happily on track, with a probable return to the side soon. In theory, 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.

Recalling when Cummins’ scans were cleared in last month, starting the clock on his buildup to match fitness, all public commentary from the player and board schedules indicated he would only narrowly miss the first Test and was set to practice at nearly full tilt with the team during the match. Coach Andrew McDonald said, “He will be up and bowling in Perth, and people will be sitting there questioning why he’s not playing.”

After returning to his home city following the team’s raucous two-day win, he was observed practicing in the New South Wales nets without any apparent limitations and, most notably, was using a pink Kookaburra ball, presumably as preparation for the day-night Test.

What prompted the shift, more than four weeks since Cummins said he would need a month to prepare his workload, and with six days until the first ball in Brisbane? Not to mention, there are over a week’s break between Brisbane and the third Test. Should he target Adelaide, it will be over two months since he resumed bowling.

That in itself is fine: medical opinions evolve, medical staff can be conservative, athletes might take care. What’s strange is that during the high-profile Test series in Australia’s calendar, the governing body’s representatives don’t appear to consider it reasonable to share updates about the skipper’s condition or the changing nature of either.

If care is the priority with Cummins, the opposite applies with Khawaja’s back injury. He had spasms flare up 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 newness of the problem surely leaves some risk that they might recur in the pressure of Brisbane.

His inclusion logically means he is set to return to opening the batting, even though Travis Head made a record-setting century in his place. He wouldn’t be selected as a backup or to bat down the order. Once more, there is no confirmation about this, just the selection.

This doesn’t mean that sides must reveal a full lineup when picking their squad, and strategies may shift. But some plans are firmer than others, and considering how Head’s whirlwind captured public attention, it would cause no issue to clarify where both batsmen are slotted to play. Some uncertainty in life is a positive, but creating it out of the broadly obvious is needless. If you’re in the business of winning over audiences, communication goes a long way.