Talking points: Travis Head among batters told to earn their spot, pace rotation on agenda
Alex Carey also remains in Australia's Test plans, while Matthew Wade may yet play the T20 World Cup
This was the over-riding message, especially when it comes to the Test batting line-up. Standout candidates are not obvious for a couple of positions, so the race will be on ahead of the Ashes next season. That means there are vacancies yet for an opening partner for David Warner - although you could argue that despite another injury, Will Pucovski couldn't have done much more to be first-choice opener - and the No. 5 spot while assuming Cameron Green has locked himself in at No. 6, which him being given a contract suggests.
Wade made an irresistible case for a Test recall - which came for the 2019 Ashes - but did not make an irresistible case to be retained. In the two Australia seasons prior to his return, he averaged 52.34 with part of that coming when the Test side was shorn of Warner and Steven Smith. There was a school of thought that the recall could have come earlier. And when it did, he made two centuries against England and has played every Test since, but an overall return of 31.60 - with just one other score over fifty - was not enough. The writing was on the wall when he was left out of the squad for the postponed South Africa tour, with a loss of contract confirming the slide.
Despite not being on today's list, Wade is among a number of players who we are still very likely to see in Australia squads over the coming months. Touring parties are going to need to remain large due to Covid-19 restrictions and along with Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis, Wade is an incumbent in the T20I side where he has been vice-captain - and briefly captain - in Pat Cummins' absence.
Australia fielded the same bowling attack throughout the four Tests against India and although the loads were relatively light in the first two games, by the end of the Gabba Test, there were some tired bodies. With six Tests likely in less than two months next season - one against Afghanistan and five against England - chief selector Trevor Hohns suggested another look at workload.
Two players who featured in the recent Sheffield Shield final will wonder what next season holds. Michael Neser and Mitchell Swepson were always unlikely to gain central contracts, but they have certainly made strong cases for a chance at Test cricket. Neser has been an ever-present in Test squads over the last two years, while Swepson has just completed the season of his life. Hohns indicated that James Pattinson remains the next in line of the quicks - so Neser may need a couple of players to make way, especially if and when they are rested or rotated - but he had a strong endorsement of Swepson.
Carey is only in possession of a place in one of the three formats for Australia - the ODI side - but retains a contract. He lost his spot in the T20I side to Wade against England last year and wasn't able to reclaim it against India. Carey then missed out on the New Zealand tour after being included in the Test squad for South Africa.
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo