One might speculate whether Cricket Australia intentionally chooses to be opaque about team selection or simply lacks effectiveness in communications, but once again, the health status of athletes and the makeup of the XI must be deduced from the selection in the larger squad for the Brisbane match.
Normally, an unchanged squad would not be much news, but on this occasion it is, thanks to the anticipated changes involving Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, none of which has now eventuated.
Cummins is the surprise 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 cursory line with the team announcement stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to further his training.”
Suggestions from within CA 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, he might still be added to the Test squad in the next few days if he and management so choose. But still, something the claims doesn’t add up.
Recalling when Cummins’ scans were cleared in October, starting the clock on his return to play, all public commentary from the player and timelines from CA indicated he would only narrowly miss the initial match and was scheduled to train at nearly full tilt with the squad in Perth. The head coach remarked, “Cummins will be fit to bowl 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 seen bowling in the New South Wales nets without any visible restrictions and, importantly, was using a pink Kookaburra ball, presumably 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 bowling loads, and with less than a week to go 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 resumed bowling.
This is acceptable: medical opinions evolve, doctors may be cautious, players can be cautious. It’s just peculiar is that during the high-profile Ashes contest in the season, the governing body’s representatives don’t appear to consider it reasonable to share any information about the captain’s fitness and availability or the changing nature of either.
And if caution is the watchword with Cummins, the opposite applies with the opener’s issue. He had muscle spasms in the first Test during two paltry fielding innings, preventing the regular batsman from doing so in the match and from having any influence when he did bat down the order. Though he may have improved, the newness of the problem surely leaves some risk that they could return in the pressure of Brisbane.
His inclusion logically means he is set to return to the top order, even though his replacement scored a historic hundred in Perth. He wouldn’t be selected as a reserve or to bat down the order. But again, there is no official information about this, only the squad listing.
This doesn’t mean that teams should have to give a whole XI when announcing selections, and plans can change. However, certain decisions are clearer than others, and considering how Head’s whirlwind drew fan interest, 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 creating it out of the clearly evident is unnecessary. If you’re in the business of winning over audiences, transparency is crucial.
