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You could wonder whether Cricket Australia 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 Brisbane match.

Normally, an identical team list would not be much news, but on this occasion it is, thanks to the possible movement involving both key players, none of which has now eventuated.

The unexpected element is Cummins for not being included, with the team skipper and fast-bowling leader progressing in rehabilitation from early signs of a stress fracture. The sole official statement was a brief mention with the team announcement stating that Cummins is scheduled to go to Brisbane to continue his preparations.”

Insider reports indicate that everything is on track and his recovery remains happily on track, with a likely addition to the side soon. Theoretically, he might still be added to the Brisbane squad in coming days if deemed fit by staff. But still, the explanations seem inconsistent.

Recalling when his medical tests came back positive in October, starting the clock on his buildup to match fitness, all public commentary from the bowler himself and timelines from CA indicated he would just be unavailable for the initial match and was scheduled to train at close to full intensity with the team during the match. Coach Andrew McDonald said, “Cummins will be fit to bowl in Perth, and fans will wonder 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 visible restrictions and, most notably, was using a pink Kookaburra ball, presumably as preparation for the day-night Test.

What prompted the shift, more than four weeks since Cummins said he would need a month to prepare 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 more than seven weeks 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 Ashes contest in Australia’s calendar, the governing body’s representatives seem not to think it necessary to provide any information about the skipper’s condition or the changing nature of either.

And if caution is the watchword with Cummins, the reverse is true with Khawaja’s back injury. He had spasms flare up in the first Test during brief periods on the field, preventing the regular batsman from playing his role in both innings and from having any influence when he did bat down the order. Even if his symptoms have subsided, 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 Perth. He wouldn’t be selected as a backup or to bat down the order. Once more, there is no confirmation about this, just the selection.

It isn’t necessary that teams should have to give a full lineup when picking their squad, and plans can change. But some plans are firmer than others, and given the way Head’s whirlwind captured public attention, it would do no harm to confirm where both batsmen are slotted to play. Some uncertainty in sports is a positive, but manufacturing it out of the broadly obvious is needless. If you’re in the business of engaging fans, transparency is crucial.