🔗 Share this article

You could wonder whether the Australian cricket board deliberately prefers to be opaque about player availability or simply has a deficiency in communications, but yet again, the fitness of players and final team composition must be inferred from the selection in the larger squad for the Brisbane match.

Normally, an unchanged squad would not be much news, but this time it is, thanks to the anticipated changes involving both key players, neither of which has come to pass.

Cummins is the surprise for not being included, with the team skipper and fast-bowling leader progressing in rehabilitation from initial symptoms of a back injury. The only public acknowledgment was a brief mention with the team announcement stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to continue his preparations.”

Suggestions from within CA indicate that everything is on track and his healing is proceeding well, with a probable return to the team in the near future. Theoretically, Cummins could even join the Test squad in the next few days if he and management so choose. However, something the claims doesn’t add up.

Recalling when his medical tests came back positive in last month, initiating the countdown on his buildup to match fitness, all public commentary from the bowler himself and board schedules indicated he would only narrowly miss the first Test and was scheduled to train at close to full intensity with the squad in Perth. Coach Andrew McDonald said, “He will be up and bowling in Perth, and fans will wonder why he’s not playing.”

After returning to his home city following the team’s raucous two-day win, he was seen bowling in the New South Wales nets without any visible restrictions and, most notably, 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 Cummins said he would need four weeks to build up his workload, and with less than a week to go in Brisbane? Not to mention, there are over a week’s break between matches. 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 most anticipated and closely followed Ashes contest in the season, the governing body’s representatives don’t appear to consider it reasonable to share updates about the captain’s fitness and availability or the evolving status of either.

If care is the priority with Cummins, the reverse is true with the opener’s issue. He had spasms flare up in Perth during brief periods on the field, preventing the regular batsman from doing so in the match and from making an impact when he eventually batted. Even if his symptoms have subsided, the fact he’d not experienced them before surely leaves some risk that they might recur in the pressure of Brisbane.

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. He wouldn’t be selected as a backup or to play lower. But again, there is no official information about this, only the squad listing.

It isn’t necessary that teams should have to give a full lineup when announcing selections, and strategies may shift. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and given the way Head’s whirlwind drew fan interest, it would do no harm to confirm where both batsmen are due to bat. Some uncertainty in sports is a good thing, but creating it out of the broadly obvious is unnecessary. For those aiming of winning over audiences, communication goes a long way.