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You could wonder whether Cricket Australia intentionally chooses to be opaque about team selection or simply has a deficiency in communications, but yet again, the health status of athletes and the makeup of the XI must be inferred from the selection in the larger squad for the Brisbane match.

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

The unexpected element is Cummins for his omission, with the team skipper and pace spearhead progressing in rehabilitation from initial symptoms of a stress fracture. The only public acknowledgment was a cursory line with the squad release stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to further his training.”

Suggestions from within CA support the view that this is all situation normal and his healing is proceeding well, with a likely addition to the side soon. In theory, Cummins could even join the Brisbane squad in the next few days if deemed fit by staff. However, 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 suggested he would just be unavailable for the initial match 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.”

After returning to his home city following the victory in the west, 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.

So, why the change of plans, well over a month since he indicated requiring four weeks to build up his workload, and with six days until the first ball in Brisbane? Additionally, there are over a week’s break between Brisbane and the third Test. Should he target Adelaide, it will be more than seven weeks since he started training again.

This is acceptable: prognoses can change, medical staff can be conservative, players can be cautious. It’s just peculiar is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Ashes contest in the season, the governing body’s representatives don’t appear to consider it reasonable to share any information about the skipper’s condition or the evolving status of either.

And if caution is the watchword with Cummins, the opposite applies 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 making an impact when he eventually batted. Even if his symptoms have subsided, the fact he’d not experienced them before creates concern that they could return in the pressure of Brisbane.

His inclusion logically means he is due to resume opening the batting, even though his replacement scored a historic hundred in Perth. Khawaja wouldn’t be picked as a backup or to bat down the order. But again, there is no official information about this, only the squad listing.

This doesn’t mean that teams should have to give a full lineup when picking their squad, and plans can change. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and given the way Head’s whirlwind drew fan interest, it would do no harm to clarify where both batsmen are slotted to play. A bit of mystery in sports is a good thing, but manufacturing it out of the broadly obvious is unnecessary. If you’re in the business of winning over audiences, transparency is crucial.