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One might speculate whether the Australian cricket board intentionally chooses to be opaque about team selection or simply has a deficiency in communications, but yet again, the fitness of players and final team composition must be deduced from the 14-player squad announcement for the Brisbane match.

Normally, an unchanged squad would not be much news, but on this occasion it is, due to the possible movement involving both key players, neither of which has come to pass.

The unexpected element is Cummins for not being included, with the regular captain and pace spearhead deep into his recovery from initial symptoms of a back injury. The sole official statement was a cursory line with the squad release stating that Cummins is scheduled to go to Brisbane to continue his preparations.”

Suggestions from within CA support the view that everything is on track and his healing is proceeding well, with a probable return to the side soon. In theory, Cummins could even join the Test squad in coming days if deemed fit by staff. But still, the explanations seem inconsistent.

Going back to when Cummins’ scans were cleared in last month, initiating the countdown on his return to play, all public commentary from the bowler himself and board schedules indicated he would just be unavailable for the first Test and was set to practice at close to full intensity with the squad in Perth. Coach Andrew McDonald said, “He will be up and bowling in Perth, and fans will wonder why he’s not playing.”

After returning to Sydney following the victory in the west, he was observed practicing in the New South Wales nets without any visible restrictions and, importantly, 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 six days until the first ball in the Gabba? Not to mention, there are over a week’s break between matches. Should he target Adelaide, it will be more than seven weeks since he started training again.

That in itself is fine: prognoses can change, medical staff can be conservative, athletes might take care. What’s strange is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Test series in the season, the board officials seem not to think 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 reverse is true with the opener’s issue. He had spasms flare up in the first Test during two paltry fielding innings, preventing the regular batsman from doing so in the match and from having any influence when he eventually batted. Even if his symptoms have subsided, the newness of the problem surely leaves some risk that they might recur in the pressure of Brisbane.

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 reserve or to play lower. Once more, there is no official information about this, just the selection.

It isn’t necessary that teams should have to give a whole XI when picking their squad, and plans can change. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and considering how Head’s whirlwind captured public attention, it would do no harm to confirm where both batsmen are slotted to play. Some uncertainty in life is a good thing, but creating it out of the clearly evident is needless. For those aiming of engaging fans, communication goes a long way.