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You could wonder whether the Australian cricket board deliberately prefers 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, thanks to the anticipated changes involving both key players, neither of which has now eventuated.

Cummins is the surprise for not being included, with the team skipper and fast-bowling leader deep into his recovery from early signs of a back injury. The only public acknowledgment was a cursory line with the squad release stating that Cummins is scheduled to go to Brisbane to further his training.”

Suggestions from within CA support the view 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 coming days if he and management so choose. But still, the explanations seem inconsistent.

Recalling 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 timelines from CA indicated he would just be unavailable for the first Test and was set to practice at nearly full tilt with the team during the match. Coach Andrew McDonald said, “He will be up and bowling in Perth, and people will be sitting there questioning 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, most notably, was training with a pink 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 bowling loads, and with six days until the first ball in the Gabba? Not to mention, there are over a week’s break between Brisbane and the third Test. If the latter is Cummins’ destination, it will be over two months since he resumed bowling.

This is acceptable: prognoses can change, doctors may be cautious, players can be cautious. 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 necessary to provide updates about the skipper’s condition or the evolving status of either.

If care is the priority with Cummins, the opposite applies 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 making an impact when he eventually batted. Though he may have improved, the newness of the problem 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 his replacement scored a historic hundred in his place. He wouldn’t be selected as a reserve or to bat down the order. 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 strategies may shift. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and given the way Head’s whirlwind captured public attention, it would do no harm to clarify where both batsmen are due to bat. A bit of mystery in sports is a good thing, but creating it out of the clearly evident is unnecessary. If you’re in the business of winning over audiences, transparency is crucial.