🔗 Share this article

One might speculate whether the Australian cricket board intentionally chooses to be unclear about team selection or simply has a deficiency in communications, but once again, the fitness of players and the makeup of the XI must be inferred from the selection in the larger squad for the second Ashes Test.

Typically, an identical team list would not be much news, but this time it is, thanks to the anticipated changes involving both key players, none of which has come to pass.

Cummins is the surprise for his omission, with the regular captain and fast-bowling leader deep into his recovery from initial symptoms of a back injury. The sole official statement was a brief mention with the team announcement stating that Cummins is scheduled to go to Brisbane to continue his preparations.”

Insider reports indicate that everything is on track and his recovery remains happily on track, with a probable return to the team in the near future. Theoretically, Cummins could even join the Brisbane squad in the next few days if he and management so choose. But still, something the claims doesn’t add up.

Going back to when Cummins’ scans were cleared in October, initiating the countdown on his return to play, all official statements from the player and timelines from CA suggested he would only narrowly miss the first Test and was set to practice at close to full intensity 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.”

Once Cummins got back to his home city following the team’s raucous two-day win, he was observed practicing in the state facilities without any apparent limitations and, importantly, was using a pink Kookaburra ball, presumably as preparation for the day-night Test.

So, why the change of plans, more than four weeks since Cummins said he would need 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 matches. Should he target Adelaide, it will be more than seven weeks since he resumed bowling.

This is acceptable: prognoses can change, doctors may be cautious, players can be cautious. 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 updates about the captain’s fitness and availability or the evolving status of either.

And if caution is the watchword with the captain, the opposite applies with the opener’s issue. He had muscle spasms 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 heat of the next Test.

With Khawaja in the squad 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 reserve or to bat down the order. Once more, there is no official information about this, just the selection.

It isn’t necessary that sides must reveal a whole XI when picking their squad, and strategies may shift. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and considering how Head’s whirlwind captured public attention, it would do no harm to clarify where those two players are due to bat. A bit of mystery in sports is a good thing, but manufacturing it out of the broadly obvious is unnecessary. For those aiming of winning over audiences, transparency is crucial.