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You could wonder whether the Australian cricket board intentionally chooses to be opaque about player availability or simply has a deficiency in public relations, but yet again, the health status of athletes and the makeup of the XI must be inferred from the 14-player squad announcement for the second Ashes Test.

Normally, an identical team list would not attract attention, but this time it is, due to the possible movement involving both key players, neither of which has now eventuated.

Cummins is the surprise for his omission, with the team skipper and fast-bowling leader progressing in rehabilitation from initial symptoms of a stress fracture. The only public acknowledgment was a brief mention with the squad release stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to further his training.”

Insider reports support the view that this is all situation normal and his healing is proceeding well, with a likely addition to the team in the near future. Theoretically, 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.

Going back to when Cummins’ scans were cleared in last month, starting the clock on his buildup to match fitness, all official statements from the bowler himself and timelines from CA indicated he would only narrowly miss the initial match and was scheduled to train at close to full intensity 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 his home city following the victory in the west, he was seen bowling in the state facilities without any visible restrictions 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 a month to prepare bowling loads, and with six days until the first ball in Brisbane? Additionally, there are over a week’s break between matches. If the latter is Cummins’ destination, it will be over two months since he started training again.

That in itself is fine: medical opinions evolve, medical staff can be conservative, athletes might take care. What’s strange is that during the high-profile Test series in the season, the board officials seem not to think it necessary to provide updates about the skipper’s condition or the changing nature of either.

If care is the priority with Cummins, the reverse is true with the opener’s issue. He had muscle spasms in Perth during brief periods on the field, keeping Australia’s usual opener from doing so in both innings and from having any influence when he eventually batted. Though he may have improved, the fact he’d not experienced them before surely leaves some risk that they might recur in the heat of the next Test.

His inclusion logically means he is set to return to the top order, even though Travis Head made a record-setting century 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.

This doesn’t mean 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 drew fan interest, it would cause no issue to confirm where both batsmen are due to bat. A bit of mystery in life is a positive, but creating it out of the broadly obvious is unnecessary. If you’re in the business of winning over audiences, transparency is crucial.