Australia drop Bevan, Bichel from contract list

[chinaman]

Cricket Australia (CA) dropped five men, including World Cup winners Michael Bevan and Andy Bichel, when it named a squad of 25 contracted players on Tuesday for the 2004-05 season.

Bevan, 33, widely regarded as one of the best batsmen in the history of the one-day game, fast bowlers Bichel, Nathan Bracken and Ashley Noffke, and off spinner Nathan Hauritz were not offered new contracts.

"Michael Bevan has been a wonderful player for Australia over many years, particularly in the one-day arena," chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said in a CA statement.

"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)."

Reuters >>

[acker]

Bichel was smashed to bits by the Victorians in the Domestic final.
Bevan unfortunatly has been competing with Martyn for the middle order anchor role in the one day team and in the last few years Martyn has done the better.
The Australian Cricket board will probably add Victorians "White , Wise & Hussey" South Australian "Tait" and maybe Queenslander "Brandt" to the contract list.

[James90]

Scott Brandt??? Are you serious! No chance! I can't believe they got rid of Bic. Just a year ago he took what? 7-15 against England! He hasn't done that bad. Bracken's done well but been outperformed. For Bevan it's been a long time coming. I would have dropped him a while ago. Elliott's deserved it for a long time and so has Hodge and Hussey. Suprising they could drop Haurie as well. It's not like MacGill's much better

[Edited on 7-4-2004 by Habibul_fan]

[Navarene]

They don't mess about these Aussies, do they? I've just looked up the PwC ODI list and Bevan is ranked ninth in the world. He also has a career average of 53.58, which, on a quick glance, seems to be the best of the top 100. Yet he is axed at the age of 33. Either they've got a shedload of great batsmen waiting in the wings, or they have made a mistake. Bichel is not so good, at 85 in the world rankings.

[acker]

Originally posted by Habibul_fan
Scott Brandt??? Are you serious! No chance! I can't believe they got rid of Bic. Just a year ago he took what? 7-15 against England! He hasn't done that bad. Bracken's done well but been outperformed. For Bevan it's been a long time going. I would have dropped him a while ago. Elliott's deserved it for a long time and so has Hodge and Hussey. Suprising they could drop Haurie as well. It's not like MacGill's much better

And just a month ago he got 0-160 odd & 0- 70 odd against the Vics in the domestic final at the MCG.
Bichel has to accept his share of the fall out from Victorias 700 + first innings in that game and Queenslands bowling attacks meagre 11 wicket match total , while the Victorians took all 20 Queensland wickets on offer.

[wang]

Its a bit disapointing that there is no room left in the 25 for them let alone the 11. I believe there is still a lot of cricket left in them.