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You could wonder whether the Australian cricket board intentionally chooses to be unclear about player availability or simply has a deficiency in public relations, but yet 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 identical team list would not attract attention, but on this occasion it is, thanks to the possible movement involving Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, neither of which has now eventuated.

The unexpected element is Cummins for his omission, with the team skipper and pace spearhead deep into his recovery from early signs of a stress fracture. The sole official statement was a cursory line with the squad release stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to continue his preparations.”

Insider reports indicate that everything is on track and his recovery remains happily on track, 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. But still, 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 official statements from the player and timelines from CA indicated he would just be unavailable for the first Test and was set to practice at close to full intensity with the team during the match. The head coach remarked, “He will be up and bowling in Perth, and fans will wonder 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 apparent limitations and, importantly, was training with a pink ball, what one would assume as preparation for the day-night Test.

So, why the change of plans, well over a month since Cummins said he would need a month to prepare bowling loads, and with six days until the first ball in Brisbane? Not to mention, there are eight more days of rest between matches. Should he target Adelaide, it will be more than seven weeks since he started training again.

That in itself is fine: medical opinions evolve, medical staff can be conservative, players can be cautious. It’s just peculiar is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Ashes contest in the season, the board officials don’t appear to consider it necessary to provide updates about the captain’s fitness and availability or the evolving status of either.

If care is the priority with the captain, the reverse is true with the opener’s issue. He had muscle spasms in the first Test during brief periods on the field, keeping Australia’s usual opener from doing so in the match 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 heat of the next Test.

His inclusion suggests he is due to resume the top order, even though Travis Head made a record-setting century in Perth. Khawaja wouldn’t be picked as a backup or to bat down the order. But again, there is no official information about this, just the selection.

This doesn’t mean that teams should have to give a full lineup when picking their squad, and strategies may shift. But some plans are firmer than others, and considering how Travis Head’s explosive performance captured public attention, it would cause no issue to confirm where both batsmen are due to bat. A bit of mystery in life is a good thing, but creating it out of the broadly obvious is needless. For those aiming of winning over audiences, communication goes a long way.