Bevan, Bichel lose Australia deals
 | | CONTRACTED PLAYERS | Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael
Clarke, Matthew Elliott, Adam Gilchrist, Jason Gillespie, Ian Harvey, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, Mike Hussey,
Michael Kasprowicz, Simon Katich, Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Darren Lehmann, Martin Love, Stuart MacGill, Jimmy Maher, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds, Shaun Tait, Shane Warne, Shane Watson, Brad Williams.
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MELBOURNE, Australia -- Australian Cricket World Cup winners Michael Bevan and Andy Bichel have been omitted from a list of 25 players to receive contracts from Cricket Australia for the 2004-05 season.
Fast bowlers Nathan Bracken and Ashley Noffke and off spinner Nathan Hauritz also failed to secure new deals.
Former test opener Matthew Elliott of Victoria has been given his first contract since 2000-01 and batsman Mike Hussey, who has played just one one-day international, also regains a contract.
Fast bowler Shaun Tait, who toured Sri Lanka recently without playing a test, and Victoria batsman Brad Hodge earn contracts for the first time.
Test batsman Simon Katich and bowler Michael Kasprowicz are upgraded to full contracts after gaining deals during 2003-04.
Bevan, 33, is widely considered to be one of the best one-day batsmen in world cricket, helping his country win back-to-back World Cup titles in 1999 and 2003 and averaging 53.58 runs in 232 limited overs matches.
Wonderful player
"Michael Bevan has been a wonderful player for Australia over many years, particularly in the one-day arena," said chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns.
"However, it was felt Michael's contribution to the one-day side has decreased, and more importantly, we thought it was the right time to move forward as we start to form a core of players to take us to the next World Cup (in 2007).
"I guess it's fair to say we probably at this stage will not be picking Michael to tour Zimbabwe (in June) with the one-day side."
Bevan's manager Robert Joske said the player would make an announcement about his future next week.
"We're not going to close off anything at this stage and we'll be looking at what's best for Michael, his cricket and his family," said Joske.
Bichel, also 33, has played 19 tests and 67 one-day matches and made a major contribution to Australia's successful World Cup defense in South Africa last year.
Contracted players receive a minimum retainer of $105,000 plus match fees. Non-contracted players are still available for selection.
