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You could wonder whether the Australian cricket board intentionally chooses to be unclear about team selection or simply lacks effectiveness in public relations, but yet again, the health status of athletes and the makeup of the XI must be deduced from the 14-player squad announcement for the Brisbane match.

Typically, an unchanged squad would not attract attention, but on this occasion it is, due to the possible movement involving both key players, neither of which has now eventuated.

The unexpected element is Cummins for not being included, with the regular captain and fast-bowling leader deep into his recovery from early signs of a stress fracture. The only public acknowledgment was a brief mention with the team announcement stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to further his training.”

Suggestions from within CA indicate that this is all situation normal and his recovery remains happily on track, with a likely addition to the team in the near future. Theoretically, he might still be added to the Brisbane squad in coming days if deemed fit by staff. But still, something the claims doesn’t add up.

Going back to when his medical tests came back positive in last month, starting the clock on his return to play, all official statements from the bowler himself and timelines from CA suggested he would only narrowly miss the initial match and was set to practice at close to full intensity with the team during the match. The head coach remarked, “Cummins will be fit to bowl in Perth, and fans will wonder why he’s not playing.”

Once Cummins got back to Sydney following the victory in the west, he was observed practicing in the state facilities without any apparent limitations and, most notably, was training with a pink ball, presumably as readiness for the Brisbane day-night game.

So, why the change of plans, more than four weeks since Cummins said he would need a month to prepare his workload, and with less than a week to go in Brisbane? Not to mention, there are over a week’s break between matches. If the latter is Cummins’ destination, it will be more than seven weeks since he resumed bowling.

This is acceptable: prognoses can change, medical staff can be conservative, athletes might take care. What’s strange is that during the high-profile Ashes contest in the season, the board officials seem not to think it reasonable to share any information about the skipper’s condition or the evolving status of either.

If care is the priority with the captain, the opposite applies with Khawaja’s back injury. He had muscle spasms in Perth during brief periods on the field, keeping Australia’s usual opener from doing so in the match and from making an impact when he did bat down the order. Though he may have improved, the fact he’d not experienced them before surely leaves some risk 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 reserve or to bat down the order. Once more, there is no confirmation about this, just the selection.

This doesn’t mean that sides must reveal a full lineup 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 those two players are due to bat. Some uncertainty in life is a good thing, but creating it out of the broadly obvious is needless. For those aiming of winning over audiences, transparency is crucial.