🔗 Share this article

One might speculate whether Cricket Australia deliberately prefers to be opaque about player availability or simply has a deficiency in public relations, but yet again, the health status of athletes and final team composition must be deduced from the selection in the larger squad for the second Ashes Test.

Normally, 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 now eventuated.

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 squad release stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to further his training.”

Insider reports support the view that this is all situation normal and his healing is proceeding well, with a probable return to the side soon. In theory, Cummins could even join the Test squad in coming days if deemed fit by staff. But still, something the claims doesn’t add up.

Going back to when Cummins’ scans were cleared in October, starting the clock on his return to play, all public commentary from the bowler himself and board schedules suggested he would just be unavailable for the first Test and was set to practice at close to full intensity with the team during the match. 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 state facilities without any visible restrictions 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 he indicated requiring four weeks to build up bowling loads, and with less than a week to go in the Gabba? Additionally, 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 resumed bowling.

This is acceptable: medical opinions evolve, doctors may be cautious, players can be cautious. It’s just peculiar is that during the high-profile Test series in the season, the governing body’s representatives seem not to think it necessary to provide any information about the skipper’s condition or the evolving status of either.

If care is the priority with the captain, the opposite applies with Khawaja’s back injury. He had spasms flare up in the first Test during two paltry fielding innings, keeping Australia’s usual opener from playing his role in both innings and from having any influence when he did bat down the order. Even if his symptoms have subsided, the newness of the problem creates concern that they could return in the pressure of Brisbane.

With Khawaja in the squad suggests he is due to resume the top order, even though his replacement scored a historic hundred in Perth. He wouldn’t be selected as a backup or to play lower. Once more, there is no confirmation about this, just the selection.

This doesn’t mean that sides must reveal a whole XI when announcing selections, and strategies may shift. But some plans are firmer than others, and given the way Head’s whirlwind drew fan interest, it would do no harm to clarify where those two players are slotted to play. A bit of mystery in life is a positive, but manufacturing it out of the broadly obvious is needless. For those aiming of winning over audiences, communication goes a long way.