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One might speculate whether the Australian cricket board intentionally chooses to be opaque about player availability or simply has a deficiency in communications, but yet again, the health status of athletes and final team composition must be deduced from the 14-player squad announcement for the second Ashes Test.

Normally, an identical team list would not be much news, but this time it is, thanks to the anticipated changes involving both key players, none of which has come to pass.

The unexpected element is Cummins for his omission, with the regular captain and pace spearhead progressing in rehabilitation from initial symptoms of a back injury. The only public acknowledgment was a brief mention with the team announcement stating that Cummins is scheduled to go to Brisbane to further his training.”

Insider reports indicate that this is all situation normal and his healing is proceeding well, with a probable return 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.

Recalling when Cummins’ scans were cleared in October, initiating the countdown on his return to play, all official statements from the player and timelines from CA indicated he would just be unavailable for the initial match and was scheduled to train at nearly full tilt with the team during the match. The head coach remarked, “Cummins will be fit to bowl in Perth, and fans will wonder why he’s not playing.”

Once Cummins got back to Sydney following the victory in the west, he was seen bowling in the New South Wales nets without any apparent limitations and, most notably, was training with a pink ball, what one would assume as readiness for the Brisbane day-night game.

So, why the change of plans, 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? 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: medical opinions evolve, medical staff can be conservative, athletes might take care. What’s strange is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Test series in the season, the board officials don’t appear to consider it reasonable to share any information 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 muscle spasms in the first Test during brief periods on the field, preventing the regular batsman from playing his role in the match 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 could return in the pressure of Brisbane.

His inclusion suggests he is set to return to opening the batting, even though his replacement scored a historic hundred in his place. He wouldn’t be selected as a backup or to play lower. But again, there is no official information about this, just the selection.

This doesn’t mean that teams should have to give a whole XI when picking their squad, and strategies may shift. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and given the way Head’s whirlwind drew fan interest, it would cause no issue to confirm where those two players are slotted to play. Some uncertainty in sports is a good thing, but manufacturing it out of the clearly evident is needless. For those aiming of winning over audiences, transparency is crucial.