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You could wonder whether the Australian cricket board deliberately prefers to be opaque about team selection or simply lacks effectiveness in communications, but yet again, the fitness of players and final team composition must be inferred from the 14-player squad announcement for the Brisbane match.

Typically, an unchanged squad would not attract attention, but on this occasion it is, thanks to the anticipated changes involving Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, neither of which has come to pass.

Cummins is the surprise for his omission, with the team skipper and fast-bowling leader progressing in rehabilitation from early signs of a back injury. The sole official statement was a brief mention with the squad release stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to further his training.”

Insider reports indicate that this is all situation normal and his healing is proceeding well, 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 October, starting the clock on his return to play, all public commentary from the player and board schedules indicated he would only narrowly miss the initial match and was scheduled to train at nearly full tilt with the squad in Perth. Coach Andrew McDonald said, “He will be up and bowling in Perth, and people will be sitting there questioning why he’s not playing.”

After returning to his home city 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, presumably as preparation for the day-night Test.

What prompted the shift, more than four weeks since he indicated requiring four weeks to build up bowling loads, and with less than a week to go in the Gabba? Additionally, 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.

That in itself is fine: medical opinions evolve, 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 governing body’s representatives don’t appear to consider it reasonable to share updates about the captain’s fitness and availability or the evolving status of either.

If care is the priority with the captain, the opposite applies with the opener’s issue. He had muscle spasms in Perth during two paltry fielding innings, preventing the regular batsman from playing his role in both innings and from having any influence 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 logically means he is set to return to opening the batting, even though his replacement scored a historic hundred 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 sides must reveal a whole XI when announcing selections, and strategies may shift. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and given the way Head’s whirlwind captured public attention, it would cause no issue to clarify where both batsmen are due to bat. A bit of mystery in sports is a positive, but creating it out of the clearly evident is needless. For those aiming of engaging fans, transparency is crucial.