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You could wonder whether Cricket Australia intentionally chooses to be unclear about team selection or simply lacks effectiveness in communications, but yet again, the fitness of players and the makeup of the XI must be deduced from the selection in the larger squad for the Brisbane match.

Typically, an unchanged squad would not be much news, but this time it is, thanks to the anticipated changes involving Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, none of which has come to pass.

Cummins is the surprise for not being included, with the regular captain and pace spearhead deep into his recovery 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 everything is on track and his recovery remains happily on track, with a likely addition to the team in the near future. In theory, Cummins could even join the Brisbane squad in coming days if deemed fit by staff. However, something the claims doesn’t add up.

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 suggested 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 Sydney following the victory in the west, he was seen bowling in the state facilities without any visible restrictions and, importantly, was using a pink Kookaburra ball, presumably as preparation for the day-night Test.

So, why the change of plans, 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? Additionally, there are eight more days of rest between Brisbane and the third Test. If the latter is Cummins’ destination, it will be more than seven weeks since he started training again.

That in itself is fine: medical opinions evolve, doctors may be cautious, athletes might take care. What’s strange is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Ashes contest in the season, the governing body’s representatives don’t appear to consider it reasonable to share updates about the captain’s fitness and availability or the changing nature of either.

If care is the priority with Cummins, the opposite applies with Khawaja’s back injury. He had muscle spasms in Perth during two paltry fielding innings, preventing the regular batsman from doing so in both innings and from making an impact 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 pressure of Brisbane.

With Khawaja in the squad logically means he is due to resume opening the batting, even though his replacement scored a historic hundred in his place. Khawaja wouldn’t be picked as a reserve or to bat down the order. But again, there is no confirmation about this, only the squad listing.

It isn’t necessary that sides must reveal a full lineup when announcing selections, and strategies may shift. But some plans are firmer than others, and given the way Travis Head’s explosive performance captured public attention, 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 clearly evident is needless. If you’re in the business of winning over audiences, transparency is crucial.