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One might speculate whether the Australian cricket board intentionally chooses to be unclear about team selection or simply has a deficiency in public relations, but yet again, the health status of athletes and final team composition must be inferred from the selection in the larger squad for the second Ashes Test.

Typically, an unchanged squad would not attract attention, but on this occasion 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 team skipper and fast-bowling leader deep into his recovery from initial symptoms of a back injury. The sole official statement was a brief mention with the team announcement stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to continue his preparations.”

Suggestions from within CA 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 Test squad in the next few days if deemed fit by staff. However, something the claims doesn’t add up.

Recalling when his medical tests came back positive in last month, starting the clock on his return to play, all official statements from the bowler himself and board schedules suggested he would only narrowly miss the initial match and was scheduled to train at nearly full tilt with the team during the match. Coach Andrew McDonald said, “He will be up and bowling in Perth, and fans will wonder why he’s not playing.”

After returning to his home city following the victory in the west, he was observed practicing in the state facilities without any visible restrictions and, importantly, was training with a pink ball, presumably as preparation for the day-night Test.

So, why the change of plans, more than four weeks since he indicated requiring a month to prepare bowling loads, and with less than a week to go 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 started training again.

This is acceptable: prognoses can change, doctors may be cautious, players can be cautious. It’s just peculiar is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Ashes contest in Australia’s calendar, the board officials seem not to think it reasonable to share any information about the skipper’s condition or the evolving status of either.

If care is the priority with the captain, the opposite applies with the opener’s issue. He had spasms flare up in Perth during two paltry fielding innings, preventing the regular batsman from doing so in both innings and from making an impact when he did bat down the order. Though he may have improved, the fact he’d not experienced them before surely leaves some risk that they could return in the pressure of Brisbane.

With Khawaja in the squad suggests he is due to resume opening the batting, even though his replacement scored a historic hundred in Perth. He wouldn’t be selected as a backup or to play lower. Once more, there is no official information about this, only the squad listing.

It isn’t necessary that teams should have to give a whole XI when picking their squad, and strategies may shift. But some plans are firmer than others, and given the way Travis Head’s explosive performance drew fan interest, it would cause no issue to confirm where both batsmen are due to bat. Some uncertainty in life is a good thing, but creating it out of the broadly obvious is unnecessary. For those aiming of engaging fans, communication goes a long way.