🔗 Share this article

One might speculate whether the Australian cricket board deliberately prefers to be opaque about team selection or simply lacks effectiveness in communications, but yet again, the health status of athletes and the makeup of the XI must be deduced from the selection in the larger squad for the second Ashes Test.

Typically, an identical team list would not attract attention, but on this occasion it is, thanks to the possible movement involving Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, none of which has come to pass.

The unexpected element is Cummins for not being included, with the team skipper and pace spearhead progressing in rehabilitation from initial symptoms of a back injury. The sole official statement was a brief mention with the team announcement stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to further his training.”

Insider reports support the view that everything is on track and his healing is proceeding well, with a likely addition to the team in the near future. In theory, Cummins could even join the Test squad in coming days if deemed fit by staff. But still, the explanations seem inconsistent.

Going back to 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 indicated he would only narrowly miss the first Test and was scheduled to train at nearly full tilt 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.”

Once Cummins got back to Sydney following the victory in the west, he was observed practicing in the New South Wales nets without any visible restrictions and, most notably, was training with a pink ball, what one would assume as preparation for the day-night Test.

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 the Gabba? Additionally, there are over a week’s break between matches. Should he target Adelaide, it will be over two months since he started training again.

This is acceptable: medical opinions evolve, medical staff can be conservative, athletes might take care. It’s just peculiar is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Ashes contest in Australia’s calendar, the board officials seem not to think it necessary to provide any information about the skipper’s condition or the changing nature of either.

And if caution is the watchword with Cummins, the reverse is true with Khawaja’s back injury. He had muscle spasms in the first Test during brief periods on the field, keeping Australia’s usual opener from doing so in both innings and from making an impact when he eventually batted. Though he may have improved, 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. He wouldn’t be selected as a backup or to play lower. Once more, there is no confirmation about this, only the squad listing.

This doesn’t mean that sides must reveal a full lineup when announcing selections, and plans can change. But some plans are firmer than others, and considering how Head’s whirlwind captured public attention, it would do no harm to confirm where those two players are slotted to play. A bit of mystery in life is a good thing, but creating it out of the clearly evident is needless. For those aiming of winning over audiences, transparency is crucial.