🔗 Share this article

One might speculate whether Cricket Australia intentionally chooses to be unclear about team selection or simply lacks effectiveness in public relations, but yet again, the fitness of players and final team composition must be inferred from the 14-player squad announcement for the second Ashes Test.

Typically, an unchanged squad would not attract attention, but this time it is, due 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 regular captain and fast-bowling leader progressing in rehabilitation from initial symptoms of a stress fracture. The sole official statement was a brief mention with the squad release stating that Cummins is scheduled to go to Brisbane to further his training.”

Insider reports support the view that this is all situation normal and his recovery remains happily on track, with a probable return to the team in the near future. Theoretically, Cummins could even join the Test squad in coming days if he and management so choose. However, the explanations seem inconsistent.

Going back to when his medical tests came back positive in last month, initiating the countdown on his buildup to match fitness, all public commentary from the player and board schedules 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. Coach Andrew McDonald said, “He will be up and bowling in Perth, and fans will wonder why he’s not playing.”

After returning to Sydney following the victory in the west, 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 readiness for the Brisbane day-night game.

So, why the change of plans, more than four weeks since Cummins said he would need a month to prepare bowling loads, and with less than a week to go in the Gabba? Not to mention, there are over a week’s break between matches. Should he target Adelaide, it will be more than seven weeks since he started training again.

This is acceptable: medical opinions evolve, medical staff can be conservative, players can be cautious. It’s just peculiar is that during the high-profile Ashes contest in the season, the board officials don’t appear to consider it necessary to provide any information about the captain’s fitness and availability or the evolving status of either.

And if caution is the watchword with Cummins, the reverse is true with the opener’s issue. 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 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. Khawaja wouldn’t be picked as a backup or to play lower. But again, there is no confirmation about this, just the selection.

It isn’t necessary that sides must reveal a full lineup when picking their squad, and strategies may shift. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and considering how Travis Head’s explosive performance drew fan interest, it would cause no issue to confirm where those two players are due to bat. Some uncertainty in sports is a positive, but creating it out of the broadly obvious is needless. If you’re in the business of winning over audiences, communication goes a long way.