Stuart Broad's World Cup and Champions Trophy ambitions are still achievable, says England head coach Trevor Bayliss.
Broad's omission "on merit" from the squads to take on Sri Lanka in five Royal London one-day internationals and one NatWest Twenty20 comes at a time when he seems determined to be involved in two global 50-over tournaments in this country over the next three years.
England's former Twenty20 captain has 243 white-ball wickets for his country, but it is his Test prowess - he is third behind team-mate James Anderson in England's all-time wicket-taking list - which is most highly-prized at present.
Broad returned, after nearly a year's absence following England's woeful 2015 World Cup campaign, to feature in two ODIs - as an injury replacement - in last winter's series defeat in South Africa.
Despite his latest exclusion, Bayliss gave him hope and said: "On this occasion, the team has been picked on merit - but that doesn't mean it's the end of the career for him.
"There's bowlers in the team that still haven't cemented their spot, that's for sure. He's there or thereabouts. He is certainly in the mix, with the Champions Trophy next year."
Two summers further down the line, Broad would turn 33 mid-tournament at the next World Cup.
Bayliss added: "He's keen to play at home in the 2019 World Cup, so we are aware of that. There is no reason why he couldn't be playing in the Champions Trophy next year, or the World Cup in 2019.
"But just at the moment, the selectors feel the bowlers who have been selected deserve their opportunity first."
While Broad must wait and see if he is given another chance, Jonny Bairstow has been granted his - reward for his vastly-improved Test match batting.
The Yorkshireman will not, however, be keeping wicket as he does in Tests - because Jos Buttler remains the white-ball incumbent.
"Jos is the wicketkeeper and has been in the last few white-ball series," added Bayliss, who has no qualms about picking Bairstow as a specialist batsman.
"There is no one hitting the ball as well as Jonny, so he deserves his opportunity. He is certainly capable of doing it when he's not keeping. He's enthusiastic, whatever he does, and he's just happy to be in the team."
One Test player unlikely to be back is out-of-form number three Nick Compton.
Bayliss stopped well short of confirming that, of course - but after 51 runs in five innings against Sri Lanka, with a career average under 30 and approaching his 33rd birthday, Compton may have run out of chances.
"I'm not going to pre-empt anything," said Bayliss. "Obviously, he will be disappointed with the amount of runs he's made in this series."
Still, the bottom line is runs - and Compton appears to have scored way too few. "From a coach's point of view, I have had no complaints with his effort," said Bayliss.
"From a selector's point of view, he will be discussed."