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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 once again, the fitness of players and final team composition must be inferred from the 14-player squad announcement for the second Ashes Test.

Typically, an unchanged squad would not attract attention, but this time it is, thanks to the anticipated changes involving both key players, neither of which has come to pass.

The unexpected element is Cummins for his omission, with the regular captain and fast-bowling leader progressing in rehabilitation from initial symptoms 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 support the view that this is all situation normal and his healing is proceeding well, with a likely addition to the side soon. Theoretically, Cummins could even join the Test squad in the next few days if he and management so choose. However, the explanations seem inconsistent.

Going back to when his medical tests came back positive in last month, initiating the countdown on his buildup to match fitness, all official statements from the player and board schedules indicated 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. Coach Andrew McDonald said, “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 seen bowling in the state facilities without any apparent limitations and, importantly, was training with a pink ball, what one would assume as preparation for the day-night Test.

So, why the change of plans, more than four weeks since he indicated requiring a month to prepare his workload, and with less than a week to go in the Gabba? Not to mention, there are eight more days of rest between matches. Should he target Adelaide, it will be more than seven weeks since he resumed bowling.

That in itself is fine: prognoses can change, doctors may be cautious, athletes might take care. What’s strange is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Ashes contest in the season, the board officials don’t appear to consider it reasonable to share any information about the skipper’s condition or the evolving status of either.

And if caution is the watchword with the captain, the opposite applies with Khawaja’s back injury. He had spasms flare up in Perth during two paltry fielding innings, keeping Australia’s usual opener from playing his role in the match and from having any influence when he did bat down the order. Though he may have improved, the newness of the problem surely leaves some risk that they might recur in the heat of the next Test.

With Khawaja in the squad suggests he is set to return to the top order, even though his replacement scored a historic hundred in Perth. He wouldn’t be selected as a reserve or to bat down the order. Once more, there is no official information about this, just the selection.

This doesn’t mean that teams should have to give a whole XI when announcing selections, and plans can change. But some plans are firmer than others, and given the way Travis Head’s explosive performance drew fan interest, it would cause no issue to confirm where those two players are due to bat. A bit of mystery in sports 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.