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You could wonder whether the Australian cricket board intentionally chooses to be unclear about team selection or simply has a deficiency in public relations, but once again, the health status of athletes and final team composition must be inferred from the 14-player squad announcement for the Brisbane match.

Typically, an identical team list would not attract attention, but on this occasion it is, due to the anticipated changes involving Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, none of which has now eventuated.

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 only public acknowledgment was a brief mention with the squad release stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to further his training.”

Suggestions from within CA support the view that everything is on track and his healing is proceeding well, with a likely addition to the side soon. In theory, he might still be added to the Test squad in the next few days if he and management so choose. But still, something the claims doesn’t add up.

Going back to when his medical tests came back positive in October, initiating the countdown on his buildup to match fitness, all public commentary 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. The head coach remarked, “Cummins will be fit to bowl 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 New South Wales nets without any apparent limitations and, most notably, was using a pink Kookaburra ball, what one would assume as preparation for the day-night Test.

What prompted the shift, well over a month since he indicated requiring four weeks to build up his workload, and with less than a week to go in the Gabba? Additionally, there are over a week’s break between Brisbane and the third Test. Should he target Adelaide, it will be more than seven weeks since he started training again.

That in itself is fine: prognoses can change, doctors may be cautious, players can be cautious. It’s just peculiar is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Ashes contest in Australia’s calendar, the governing body’s representatives seem not to think it necessary to provide updates about the skipper’s condition or the evolving status of either.

If care is the priority with Cummins, the reverse is true with Khawaja’s back injury. He had muscle spasms in Perth during two paltry fielding innings, keeping Australia’s usual opener from playing his role in both innings and from making an impact when he eventually batted. 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.

With Khawaja in the squad suggests he is due to resume opening the batting, even though Travis Head made a record-setting century in Perth. He wouldn’t be selected as a reserve or to play lower. But again, there is no official information about this, just the selection.

It isn’t necessary that teams should have to give a whole XI when announcing selections, and plans can change. But some plans are firmer than others, and considering how Head’s whirlwind captured public attention, it would cause no issue to confirm where those two players are slotted to play. A bit of mystery in life is a good thing, but creating it out of the clearly evident is unnecessary. If you’re in the business of winning over audiences, communication goes a long way.