🔗 Share this article

One might speculate whether the Australian cricket board intentionally chooses to be opaque about team selection or simply has a deficiency in public relations, but yet again, the fitness of players and the makeup of the XI must be deduced from the 14-player squad announcement for the second Ashes Test.

Normally, an unchanged squad would not attract attention, but on this occasion it is, thanks to the anticipated changes involving both key players, neither of which has now eventuated.

Cummins is the surprise for not being included, with the regular captain and pace spearhead deep into his recovery from initial symptoms of a back injury. The sole official statement was a cursory line with the squad release stating that Cummins is scheduled to go to Brisbane to continue his preparations.”

Insider reports support the view that this is all situation normal and his healing is proceeding well, with a likely addition to the side soon. In theory, 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.

Going back to when his medical tests came back positive in October, starting the clock on his buildup to match fitness, all public commentary from the player and timelines from CA suggested he would just be unavailable for the initial match and was set to practice at nearly full tilt with the team during the match. Coach Andrew McDonald said, “Cummins will be fit to bowl 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 New South Wales nets without any apparent limitations and, importantly, was training with a pink ball, what one would assume as preparation for the day-night Test.

So, why the change of plans, more than four weeks since he indicated requiring a month to prepare bowling loads, and with six days until the first ball in the Gabba? Not to mention, there are over a week’s break between Brisbane and the third Test. Should he target Adelaide, it will be more than seven weeks since he resumed bowling.

This is acceptable: medical opinions evolve, medical staff can be conservative, players can be cautious. What’s strange is that during the high-profile Ashes contest in the season, the board officials don’t appear to consider it reasonable to share updates about the skipper’s condition 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 spasms flare up in the first Test during two paltry fielding innings, preventing the regular batsman from playing his role in both innings and from having any influence when he eventually batted. Even if his symptoms have subsided, the fact he’d not experienced them before creates concern that they could return in the pressure of Brisbane.

With Khawaja in the squad suggests he is due to resume opening the batting, even though Travis Head made a record-setting century in Perth. Khawaja wouldn’t be picked as a reserve or to bat down the order. But again, there is no confirmation about this, just the selection.

This doesn’t mean that sides must reveal a full lineup when picking their squad, and strategies may shift. But some plans are firmer than others, and given the way Travis Head’s explosive performance captured public attention, it would cause no issue to clarify where both batsmen are due to bat. A bit of mystery in sports is a good thing, but manufacturing it out of the broadly obvious is needless. If you’re in the business of winning over audiences, transparency is crucial.