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You could wonder whether the Australian cricket board intentionally chooses to be opaque about player availability or simply lacks effectiveness in communications, but yet again, the fitness of players and the makeup of the XI must be deduced from the selection in the larger squad for the Brisbane match.

Typically, an unchanged squad would not be much news, but on this occasion it is, due to the anticipated changes involving Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, none of which has come to pass.

Cummins is the surprise for his omission, with the regular captain and pace spearhead deep into his recovery from initial symptoms of a back injury. The sole official statement was a cursory line with the squad release stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to continue his preparations.”

Insider reports indicate that this is all situation normal and his recovery remains happily on track, with a likely addition to the side soon. In theory, he might still be added to the Test squad in coming days if deemed fit by staff. However, the explanations seem inconsistent.

Recalling when Cummins’ scans were cleared in October, initiating the countdown on his buildup to match fitness, all official statements from the player and board schedules suggested he would just be unavailable for the initial match and was scheduled to train at nearly full tilt 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.”

After returning to Sydney 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, what one would assume as readiness for the Brisbane day-night game.

So, why the change of plans, well over a month since he indicated requiring four weeks to build up bowling loads, and with six days until the first ball 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.

That in itself is fine: prognoses can change, doctors may be cautious, 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 captain’s fitness and availability or the evolving status of either.

And if caution is the watchword with Cummins, the opposite applies with the opener’s issue. He had spasms flare up in Perth 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. Though he may have improved, the newness of the problem surely leaves some risk that they might recur in the pressure of Brisbane.

His inclusion suggests he is due to resume the top order, even though his replacement scored a historic hundred in Perth. Khawaja wouldn’t be picked as a reserve or to bat down the order. Once more, there is no official information about this, only the squad listing.

It isn’t necessary that teams should have to give a whole XI when announcing selections, and strategies may shift. But some plans are firmer than others, and considering how Travis Head’s explosive performance drew fan interest, it would do no harm to clarify where those two players are due to bat. A bit of mystery in sports is a positive, but manufacturing it out of the broadly obvious is needless. For those aiming of engaging fans, communication goes a long way.