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One might speculate whether Cricket Australia deliberately prefers to be opaque about team selection or simply has a deficiency in communications, but once again, the health status of athletes and final team composition must be inferred from the 14-player squad announcement for the second Ashes Test.

Normally, an identical team list would not attract attention, but this time it is, thanks to the possible movement involving both key players, none of which has now eventuated.

The unexpected element is Cummins for his omission, with the team skipper and fast-bowling leader progressing in rehabilitation from initial symptoms of a stress fracture. The sole official statement was a brief mention 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 likely addition to the side soon. Theoretically, Cummins could even join the Brisbane squad in coming days if he and management so choose. However, something the claims doesn’t add up.

Going back to when Cummins’ scans were cleared in October, starting the clock on his return to play, all official statements from the bowler himself and timelines from CA suggested he would just be unavailable for the initial match and was set to practice at close to full intensity with the team during the match. Coach Andrew McDonald said, “He will be up and bowling in Perth, and people will be sitting there questioning 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, importantly, was using a pink Kookaburra ball, what one would assume as readiness for the Brisbane day-night game.

What prompted the shift, more than four weeks since Cummins said he would need 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 Brisbane and the third Test. If the latter is Cummins’ destination, it will be over two months since he resumed bowling.

That in itself is fine: medical opinions evolve, doctors may be cautious, athletes might take care. It’s just peculiar is that during the high-profile Ashes contest in the season, the governing body’s representatives seem not to think it necessary to provide any information about the captain’s fitness and availability or the changing nature of either.

And if caution is the watchword with the captain, the reverse is true with Khawaja’s back injury. He had spasms flare up in Perth during brief periods on the field, keeping Australia’s usual opener from playing his role 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 might recur in the heat of the next Test.

His inclusion logically means he is set to return to opening the batting, even though Travis Head made a record-setting century in his place. Khawaja wouldn’t be picked as a backup or to bat down the order. But again, there is no official information about this, only the squad listing.

It isn’t necessary that teams should have to give a full lineup when announcing selections, and plans can change. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and considering how Travis Head’s explosive performance drew fan interest, it would do no harm to clarify where both batsmen are slotted to play. A bit of mystery in sports is a positive, but manufacturing it out of the broadly obvious is needless. For those aiming of winning over audiences, transparency is crucial.