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One might speculate whether the Australian cricket board intentionally chooses 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 deduced from the selection in the larger squad for the second Ashes Test.

Typically, an identical team list would not be much news, but this time it is, due to the anticipated changes involving Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, neither of which has come to pass.

The unexpected element is Cummins for not being included, with the regular captain and pace spearhead deep into his recovery from initial symptoms of a back injury. The only public acknowledgment was a cursory line with the team announcement stating that Cummins is scheduled to go to Brisbane to further his training.”

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

Going back to when his medical tests came back positive in October, initiating the countdown on his return to play, all official statements from the bowler himself and timelines from CA suggested he would just be unavailable for the first Test and was set to practice at nearly full tilt with the squad in Perth. Coach Andrew McDonald said, “He will be up and bowling in Perth, and people will be sitting there questioning 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 using a pink Kookaburra ball, presumably as readiness for the Brisbane day-night game.

What prompted the shift, well over a month since he indicated requiring a month to prepare his workload, 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 over two months since he started training again.

That in itself is fine: medical opinions evolve, doctors may be cautious, athletes might take care. It’s just peculiar is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Test series in Australia’s calendar, the governing body’s representatives don’t appear to consider it necessary to provide updates about the skipper’s condition or the changing nature of either.

And if caution is the watchword with Cummins, the opposite applies with Khawaja’s back injury. He had muscle spasms in the first Test during two paltry fielding innings, keeping Australia’s usual opener from doing so in both innings and from having any influence when he did bat down the order. Even if his symptoms have subsided, the fact he’d not experienced them before creates concern that they could return in the pressure of Brisbane.

His inclusion logically means he is set to return to the top order, even though his replacement scored a historic hundred in his place. Khawaja wouldn’t be picked as a backup or to bat down the order. Once more, there is no confirmation about this, just the selection.

It isn’t necessary that sides must reveal a full lineup when announcing selections, and strategies may shift. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and considering how Travis Head’s explosive performance drew fan interest, it would cause no issue to confirm where both batsmen are slotted to play. A bit of mystery in life is a positive, but manufacturing it out of the broadly obvious is unnecessary. For those aiming of winning over audiences, communication goes a long way.