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You could wonder whether Cricket Australia intentionally chooses to be unclear about team selection or simply has a deficiency in communications, but once 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 identical team list would not attract attention, but on this occasion it is, due to the anticipated changes involving both key players, none of which has come to pass.

The unexpected element is Cummins for his omission, with the regular captain and pace spearhead deep into his recovery from initial symptoms of a stress fracture. The sole official statement was a cursory line with the team announcement stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to further his training.”

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

Recalling when Cummins’ scans were cleared in last month, starting the clock on his buildup to match fitness, all public commentary from the player and board schedules indicated he would only narrowly miss the initial match and was set to practice at close to full intensity with the squad in Perth. The head coach remarked, “Cummins will be fit to bowl in Perth, and fans will wonder why he’s not playing.”

After returning to his home city following the victory in the west, he was observed practicing in the New South Wales nets without any apparent limitations and, importantly, was training with a pink ball, presumably as readiness for the Brisbane day-night game.

So, why the change of plans, well over a month since Cummins said he would need four weeks to build up bowling loads, and with six days until the first ball in the Gabba? Not to mention, there are eight more days of rest between Brisbane and the third Test. Should he target Adelaide, it will be over two months since he started training again.

That in itself is fine: prognoses can change, doctors may be cautious, players can be cautious. It’s just peculiar is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Ashes contest in the season, the board officials seem not to think it reasonable to share updates about the captain’s fitness and availability or the evolving status of either.

If care is the priority with Cummins, the reverse is true with the opener’s issue. He had spasms flare up 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 did bat down the order. Even if his symptoms have subsided, the fact he’d not experienced them before surely leaves some risk that they might recur in the pressure of Brisbane.

His inclusion logically means he is due to resume the top order, 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 confirmation about this, just the selection.

It isn’t necessary that sides must reveal 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 slotted to play. Some uncertainty in life is a positive, but creating it out of the broadly obvious is needless. If you’re in the business of winning over audiences, communication goes a long way.