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You could wonder whether the Australian cricket board deliberately prefers to be unclear about player availability or simply lacks effectiveness in communications, but yet again, the health status of athletes and final team composition must be inferred from the 14-player squad announcement for the second Ashes Test.

Typically, an unchanged squad would not be much news, but on this occasion it is, due to the anticipated changes involving Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, neither of which has now eventuated.

The unexpected element is Cummins for not being included, with the team skipper and pace spearhead deep into his recovery from early signs of a back injury. The sole official statement was a brief mention with the team announcement stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to further his training.”

Insider reports indicate that everything is on track and his recovery remains happily on track, with a likely addition to the team in the near future. In theory, he might still be added to the Test squad in the next few days if he and management so choose. But still, the explanations seem inconsistent.

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 board schedules indicated he would only narrowly miss the initial match and was scheduled to train at close to full intensity with the squad in Perth. The head coach remarked, “He will be up and bowling in Perth, and fans will wonder why he’s not playing.”

After returning to his home city following the team’s raucous two-day win, he was observed practicing in the state facilities without any visible restrictions and, importantly, was training with a pink ball, presumably as preparation for the day-night Test.

So, why the change of plans, more than four weeks since Cummins said he would need four weeks to build up bowling loads, 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 more than seven weeks 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 high-profile Ashes contest in the season, the board officials don’t appear to consider it reasonable to share updates 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 two paltry fielding innings, preventing the regular batsman from playing his role in both innings and from making an impact when he did bat down the order. Even if his symptoms have subsided, the newness of the problem surely leaves some risk that they could return in the pressure of Brisbane.

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. He wouldn’t be selected as a backup or to bat down the order. But again, there is no confirmation about this, just the selection.

It isn’t necessary that teams should have to give a full lineup when announcing selections, and strategies may shift. But some plans are firmer than others, and considering how Head’s whirlwind drew fan interest, it would do no harm to clarify where both batsmen are slotted to play. Some uncertainty in life is a positive, but creating it out of the broadly obvious is needless. For those aiming of engaging fans, transparency is crucial.