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One might speculate whether the Australian cricket board intentionally chooses to be opaque about team selection or simply has a deficiency in communications, but yet again, the fitness of players and final team composition must be deduced from the 14-player squad announcement for the Brisbane match.

Typically, an identical team list would not be much news, but on this occasion it is, due to the possible movement involving Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, neither of which has come to pass.

Cummins is the surprise for his omission, with the regular captain and fast-bowling leader progressing in rehabilitation from initial symptoms of a stress fracture. The only public acknowledgment was a brief mention 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 he and management so choose. However, the explanations seem inconsistent.

Recalling when Cummins’ scans were cleared in October, initiating the countdown on his buildup to match fitness, all public commentary 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 squad in Perth. The head coach remarked, “He will be up and bowling in Perth, and people will be sitting there questioning why he’s not playing.”

After returning to Sydney following the team’s raucous two-day win, he was seen bowling in the state facilities without any visible restrictions and, most notably, was training with a pink ball, presumably 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 less than a week to go in the Gabba? Not to mention, there are over a week’s break between Brisbane and the third Test. Should he target Adelaide, it will be over two months since he resumed bowling.

That in itself is fine: medical opinions evolve, medical staff can be conservative, athletes might take care. What’s strange is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Test series in Australia’s calendar, the board officials seem not to think it necessary to provide any information about the captain’s fitness and availability or the changing nature of either.

And if caution is the watchword with the captain, the reverse is true with Khawaja’s back injury. He had spasms flare up in the first Test during brief periods on the field, keeping Australia’s usual opener from playing his role in the match and from having any influence when he did bat down the order. Though he may have improved, the newness of the problem creates concern that they might recur in the heat of the next Test.

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

It isn’t necessary that sides must reveal a whole XI when picking their squad, and strategies may shift. But some plans are firmer than others, and given the way 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 sports is a positive, but creating it out of the broadly obvious is needless. For those aiming of engaging fans, transparency is crucial.