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One might speculate whether the Australian cricket board deliberately prefers to be unclear about team selection or simply has a deficiency in communications, but once again, the fitness of players and final team composition must be deduced from the selection in the larger squad for the second Ashes Test.

Normally, an identical team list would not attract attention, but this time it is, thanks to the anticipated changes involving Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, neither of which has come to pass.

Cummins is the surprise for not being included, with the regular captain and pace spearhead progressing in rehabilitation from initial symptoms of a back injury. The sole official statement was a cursory line with the team announcement stating that Cummins is scheduled to go to Brisbane to continue his preparations.”

Insider reports support the view that everything is on track and his healing is proceeding well, with a probable return to the side soon. In theory, Cummins could even join the Brisbane squad in coming days if deemed fit by staff. However, the explanations seem inconsistent.

Going back to when his medical tests came back positive in last month, starting the clock on his return to play, all public commentary from the bowler himself and board schedules suggested he would only narrowly miss the first Test and was set to practice at nearly full tilt with the team during the match. The head coach remarked, “He will be up and bowling 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 observed practicing in the New South Wales nets without any apparent limitations and, importantly, 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 four weeks to build up bowling loads, and with less than a week to go in Brisbane? Not to mention, there are over a week’s break between matches. If the latter is Cummins’ destination, it will be over two months since he resumed bowling.

That in itself is fine: prognoses can change, 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 board officials seem not to think it necessary to provide updates about the skipper’s condition or the changing nature of either.

If care is the priority with the captain, the opposite applies with Khawaja’s back injury. He had muscle spasms in Perth during brief periods on the field, keeping Australia’s usual opener from doing so in both innings and from making an impact when he did bat down the order. Even if his symptoms have subsided, the newness of the problem creates concern that they might recur in the heat of the next Test.

With Khawaja in the squad suggests he is set to return to the top order, even though Travis Head made a record-setting century in Perth. He wouldn’t be selected as a backup or to bat down the order. Once more, there is no confirmation about this, only the squad listing.

This doesn’t mean that sides must reveal a whole XI when picking their squad, and strategies may shift. But some plans are firmer than others, and considering how Travis Head’s explosive performance drew fan interest, it would do no harm to confirm where those two players are due to bat. A bit of mystery in life is a good thing, but manufacturing it out of the clearly evident is needless. If you’re in the business of engaging fans, communication goes a long way.