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You could wonder whether Cricket Australia intentionally chooses to be unclear about player availability or simply lacks effectiveness in communications, but yet again, the fitness of players 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 attract attention, but this time it is, due to the anticipated changes involving Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, none of which has now eventuated.

The unexpected element is Cummins for not being included, with the team skipper and pace spearhead deep into his recovery from early signs of a stress fracture. The sole official statement was a brief mention with the team announcement stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to continue his preparations.”

Suggestions from within CA support the view that this is all situation normal and his healing is proceeding well, with a probable return to the side soon. Theoretically, Cummins could even join the Test squad in the next few days if he and management so choose. However, the explanations seem inconsistent.

Recalling when Cummins’ scans were cleared in October, starting the clock on his return to play, all official statements from the player and board schedules suggested he would only narrowly miss the initial match and was scheduled to train at nearly full tilt with the team during the match. 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 observed practicing in the state facilities without any apparent limitations and, importantly, was training with a pink ball, what one would assume as readiness for the Brisbane day-night game.

So, why the change of plans, more than four weeks since Cummins said he would need four weeks to build up his workload, and with six days until the first ball in Brisbane? 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 started training again.

That in itself is fine: medical opinions evolve, 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 governing body’s representatives seem not to think it reasonable to share updates about the captain’s fitness and availability or the changing nature of either.

If care is the priority with Cummins, the reverse is true with the opener’s issue. 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 making an impact when he eventually batted. Though he may have improved, the newness of the problem creates concern that they might recur in the pressure of Brisbane.

His inclusion suggests he is set to return to 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. Once more, there is no official information 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 considering how Head’s whirlwind drew fan interest, it would cause no issue to confirm where both batsmen are slotted to play. Some uncertainty in life is a positive, but creating it out of the clearly evident is needless. If you’re in the business of winning over audiences, transparency is crucial.