While the series is dead, baggy green dreams live within Australia's one-day international squad ahead of the final two matches against India.
With Australia's Test No.6 spot up for grabs, Marcus Stoinis knows the importance of his next two months, starting from Thursday's fourth ODI in Bangalore.
Stoinis has two opportunities left in India before he returns home to resume his first-class career with Western Australia after five seasons with Victoria.
The three Sheffield Shield fixtures before the first Ashes Test on November 23 shape as pivotal for the No.6 position.
Stoinis's fellow ODI squad members Glenn Maxwell and Hilton Cartwright are also in the mix, while Moises Henriques hasn't given up hope of a recall.
"Obviously they're probably pretty important to play the Ashes," Stoinis said of the ODI and Shield matches ahead of him.
"But at the moment I'm not really thinking about it."
Maxwell broke through for his maiden Test ton earlier in the year and averaged 33 across two matches in Bangladesh.
He's made scores of 39, 14 and five in India and not been used as a bowler with the exception of one over when the match was effectively decided in Indore.
Cartwright has also struggled with the bat, out bowled twice for one when opening the batting in place of the injured Aaron Finch.
While Stoinis was dismissed for three in the rain-affected series-opener, he's looked solid for unbeaten scores of 62 and 27 since then.
Stoinis, Cartwright and Henriques would all offer selectors a part-time seam option on Australia's quicker surfaces.
Stoinis, 28, has bowled all but three of a possible 30 overs in India, with his medium pace useful, but only yielding two wickets in tough conditions.
Like many allrounders, he believes maximum involvement in the game brings the best out of him.
"I'd love to bowl 10 and open the batting if I could," Stoinis joked.
As for where he bats in the Shield for WA, there's been no solid outcome from discussions with coach Justin Langer.
"Justin and myself have spoken about it a little bit and maybe should have spoken about it a little bit more," Stoinis said.
"But that will sort itself out. Hopefully anywhere in the top four."
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