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You could wonder whether Cricket Australia deliberately prefers to be unclear about player availability or simply lacks effectiveness in public relations, but once again, the fitness of players and the makeup of the XI must be inferred from the 14-player squad announcement for the Brisbane match.

Normally, an identical team list would not be much news, but this time it is, thanks to the possible movement involving Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, neither of which has come to pass.

Cummins is the surprise for not being included, with the regular captain and pace spearhead deep into his recovery from early signs of a stress fracture. The only public acknowledgment was a cursory line with the team announcement stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to further his training.”

Suggestions from within CA indicate that this is all situation normal and his recovery remains happily on track, with a probable return to the side soon. In theory, Cummins could even join the Test squad in the next few days if deemed fit by staff. But still, something the claims doesn’t add up.

Recalling when Cummins’ scans were cleared in October, initiating the countdown on his buildup to match fitness, all public commentary from the player and board schedules suggested he would only narrowly miss the first Test and was scheduled to train at nearly full tilt with the team during the match. The head coach remarked, “He will be up and bowling in Perth, and people will be sitting there questioning why he’s not playing.”

After returning to Sydney following the team’s raucous two-day win, he was seen bowling in the New South Wales nets without any visible restrictions and, importantly, was using a pink Kookaburra ball, presumably as preparation for the day-night Test.

What prompted the shift, well over a month since Cummins said he would need a month to prepare bowling loads, and with six days until the first ball in Brisbane? Additionally, there are eight more days of rest between matches. If the latter is Cummins’ destination, it will be over two months since he resumed bowling.

This is acceptable: prognoses can change, medical staff can be conservative, players can be cautious. What’s strange is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Test series in the season, the board officials don’t appear to consider it reasonable to share updates about the captain’s fitness and availability or the evolving status of either.

And if caution is the watchword with Cummins, the reverse is true with the opener’s issue. He had spasms flare up in Perth during two paltry fielding innings, keeping Australia’s usual opener from doing so in both innings and from making an impact when he eventually batted. Though he may have improved, the newness of the problem creates concern that they could return in the pressure of Brisbane.

With Khawaja in the squad logically means he is due to resume opening the batting, even though Travis Head made a record-setting century in his place. Khawaja wouldn’t be picked as a backup or to play lower. But again, there is no confirmation about this, just the selection.

It isn’t necessary that sides must reveal a full lineup when announcing selections, and plans can change. But some plans are firmer than others, and given the way Travis Head’s explosive performance captured public attention, it would do no harm to clarify where both batsmen are due to bat. A bit of mystery in life is a positive, but creating it out of the clearly evident is unnecessary. For those aiming of engaging fans, communication goes a long way.