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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 communications, but yet again, the health status of athletes and final team composition must be deduced from the selection in the larger squad for the second Ashes Test.

Typically, an unchanged squad would not be much news, but on this occasion it is, thanks to the possible movement involving Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, none of which has now eventuated.

Cummins is the surprise for his omission, with the team skipper and pace spearhead 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 Cummins is scheduled to go to Brisbane to continue his preparations.”

Insider reports indicate that this is all situation normal and his healing is proceeding well, with a likely addition to the side soon. Theoretically, Cummins could even join the Test squad in the next few days if he and management so choose. But still, the explanations seem inconsistent.

Recalling when Cummins’ scans were cleared in last month, initiating the countdown 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 set to practice at nearly full tilt with the squad in Perth. The head coach remarked, “Cummins will be fit to bowl in Perth, and people will be sitting there questioning why he’s not playing.”

Once Cummins got back to his home city following the team’s raucous two-day win, he was observed practicing in the state facilities without any visible restrictions and, importantly, was training with a pink ball, presumably as readiness for the Brisbane day-night game.

So, why the change of plans, well over a month since he indicated requiring four weeks to build up bowling loads, and with less than a week to go in Brisbane? Additionally, there are eight more days of rest between matches. Should he target Adelaide, it will be over two months since he resumed bowling.

This is acceptable: medical opinions evolve, medical staff can be conservative, athletes might take care. It’s just peculiar is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Ashes contest in the season, the governing body’s representatives seem not to think it necessary to provide updates about the skipper’s condition or the evolving status of either.

And if caution is the watchword with the captain, the opposite applies with Khawaja’s back injury. He had spasms flare up in the first Test during brief periods on the field, preventing the regular batsman from playing his role 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 logically means 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 bat down the order. Once more, there is no official information about this, just the selection.

It isn’t necessary 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 considering how Travis Head’s explosive performance drew fan interest, it would do no harm to confirm where both batsmen are due to bat. A bit of mystery in sports is a good thing, but manufacturing it out of the broadly obvious is unnecessary. If you’re in the business of winning over audiences, communication goes a long way.