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You could wonder whether Cricket Australia deliberately prefers to be opaque about player availability or simply lacks effectiveness in communications, but yet again, the fitness of players and final team composition must be inferred from the selection in the larger squad for the Brisbane match.

Typically, an unchanged squad would not attract attention, but on this occasion it is, due to the anticipated changes involving both key players, neither of which has now eventuated.

The unexpected element is Cummins for not being included, with the team skipper and fast-bowling leader deep into his recovery from initial symptoms of a stress fracture. The sole official statement was a brief mention with the squad release stating that Cummins is scheduled to go to Brisbane to continue his preparations.”

Insider reports indicate that this is all situation normal and his healing is proceeding well, with a likely addition to the side soon. In theory, he might still be added to the Brisbane squad in the next few days if he and management so choose. But still, the explanations seem inconsistent.

Recalling when his medical tests came back positive in October, initiating the countdown on his return to play, all official statements from the bowler himself and timelines from CA suggested he would just be unavailable for the first Test and was set to practice 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.”

Once Cummins got back to his home city following the team’s raucous two-day win, he was observed practicing in the state facilities without any apparent limitations and, most notably, was using a pink Kookaburra ball, presumably as readiness for the Brisbane day-night game.

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 Brisbane? Additionally, there are eight more days of rest between Brisbane and the third Test. If the latter is Cummins’ destination, it will be over two months since he started training again.

This is acceptable: medical opinions evolve, medical staff can be conservative, athletes might take care. It’s just peculiar is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Test series in Australia’s calendar, the board officials don’t appear to consider it necessary to provide any information about the skipper’s condition or the evolving status of either.

If care is the priority with Cummins, the opposite applies with Khawaja’s back injury. He had muscle spasms in the first Test during two paltry fielding innings, preventing the regular batsman 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 creates concern that they might recur in the heat of the next Test.

His inclusion suggests he is set to return to the top order, even though his replacement scored a historic hundred in his place. Khawaja wouldn’t be picked as a backup or to play lower. But again, there is no confirmation about this, only the squad listing.

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 Travis Head’s explosive performance drew fan interest, it would do no harm to confirm where those two players are due to bat. A bit of mystery in life is a good thing, but creating it out of the broadly obvious is unnecessary. For those aiming of winning over audiences, communication goes a long way.