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One might speculate whether Cricket Australia deliberately prefers to be opaque about player availability or simply has a deficiency in public relations, but yet again, the fitness of players and the makeup of the XI must be deduced from the 14-player squad announcement for the Brisbane match.

Typically, an identical team list would not be much news, but this time 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 his omission, with the team skipper and fast-bowling leader deep into his recovery from early signs 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 probable return to the team in the near future. Theoretically, Cummins could even join the Test squad in coming days if he and management so choose. However, something the claims doesn’t add up.

Recalling when his medical tests came back positive in October, starting the clock on his buildup to match fitness, all official statements from the bowler himself and timelines from CA suggested he would just be unavailable for the first Test 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.”

Once Cummins got back to his home city following the victory in the west, he was seen bowling in the New South Wales nets without any visible restrictions and, most notably, was using a pink Kookaburra ball, presumably as preparation for the day-night Test.

What prompted the shift, more than four weeks 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. If the latter is Cummins’ destination, it will be more than seven weeks since he resumed bowling.

This is acceptable: medical opinions evolve, doctors may be cautious, players can be cautious. It’s just peculiar is that during the high-profile Ashes contest in the season, the board officials seem not to think 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 opposite applies with the opener’s issue. He had muscle spasms in Perth during two paltry fielding innings, keeping Australia’s usual opener from doing so in the match and from having any influence when he eventually batted. Though he may have improved, the fact he’d not experienced them before creates concern that they could return in the pressure of Brisbane.

His inclusion suggests he is due to resume the top order, 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 confirmation about this, only the squad listing.

It isn’t necessary that sides must reveal a full lineup when picking their squad, and plans can change. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and considering how Travis Head’s explosive performance drew fan interest, it would cause no issue to clarify where both batsmen are slotted to play. A bit of mystery in sports is a good thing, but creating it out of the clearly evident is unnecessary. If you’re in the business of winning over audiences, transparency is crucial.