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One might speculate whether the Australian cricket board deliberately prefers to be unclear about team selection or simply lacks effectiveness in public relations, but yet again, the fitness of players and the makeup of the XI must be inferred from the 14-player squad announcement for the Brisbane match.

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

Cummins is the surprise for not being included, with the regular captain and fast-bowling leader progressing in rehabilitation from early signs of a stress fracture. The sole official statement was a cursory line with the team announcement stating that Cummins is scheduled to go 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. Theoretically, Cummins could even join the Brisbane squad in the next few days if he and management so choose. But still, something the claims doesn’t add up.

Going back to when Cummins’ scans were cleared in October, starting the clock on his buildup to match fitness, all official statements from the player and board schedules indicated he would just be unavailable for the initial match and was scheduled to train 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 team’s raucous two-day win, he was seen bowling in the New South Wales nets without any apparent limitations and, importantly, was training with a pink ball, what one would assume 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 his workload, and with six days until the first ball in the Gabba? Additionally, 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: medical opinions evolve, medical staff can be conservative, players can be cautious. It’s just peculiar is that during the high-profile Test series in the season, the governing body’s representatives seem not to think it necessary to provide any information about the skipper’s condition or the evolving status of either.

And if caution is the watchword with Cummins, the reverse is true with the opener’s issue. He had muscle spasms in Perth during two paltry fielding innings, preventing the regular batsman from playing his role in the match 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.

His inclusion logically means 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 confirmation 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. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and considering how Head’s whirlwind captured public attention, it would do no harm to clarify where both batsmen are slotted to play. Some uncertainty in sports is a positive, but creating it out of the broadly obvious is unnecessary. If you’re in the business of winning over audiences, communication goes a long way.