Forgetting about Australian selection and joining the Twenty20 circuit is behind Fawad Ahmed's development into one of the Big Bash League's best local spinners.
Ahmed hasn't played for Australia in more than five years, the Pakistani-born leggie claiming 3-25 in his last T20 international before also dropping out of the one-day side frame in 2013.
Since then the evergreen 36-year-old has been one of the new era of spinners changing the BBL with the ball, while also playing in the Caribbean and Canadian Premier Leagues in 2018.
The Sydney Thunder spinner's repertoire includes regular sliders and zooters rather than just a wrong'un and legbreak, with the first two weapons designed to skid on dewy night wickets in Australia.
His armoury is effective too, with Ahmed going at less than seven-an-over in the last four seasons of the BBL.
"It's just mindset, I'm in a really good point in my mindset by not playing much red-ball cricket," Ahmed told AAP.
"Here is just more about the variation. You're not going to get many spinning wickets except maybe at the SCG.
"The rest are more likely to be very flat, no spin with nothing happening so you use a lot more sliders and zooters when there's a dew factor and wickets are skidding."
Ahmed claimed 3-33 in his first bowl of this summer's tournament against the Sixers on Christmas Eve, prompting calls for his selection in next year's one-day World Cup in England.
He has also been the Thunder's most miserly bowler and leading wicket-taker in both of the past two seasons.
Australia are still yet to lock in their best limited-overs spinner, with Ashton Agar's average of 58 embarrassingly the lowest of any Aussie spinner in one-dayers this year.
Longer-term, there's a Twenty20 World Cup at home come the end of 2020.
By then Ahmed will be aged 38 but he might be an option if he maintains his level of T20 performances on home soil.
"After I missed the Ashes in 2013 I just forgot about (Australian) selection," Ahmed said.
"I just thought play where you play. I don't have personal goals anymore, I just play ... And that's my job. To win the games and tournaments.
"The only thing you can do is want to bowl good, hopefully take wickets and win the game for the team. If something does come up, if people are talking, very good. But if not, oh well."
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