SYDNEY, April 19: Australian selectors dashed any faint hopes batsman Darren Lehmann held of regaining a spot in the national side on Tuesday when they included the 35-year-old in a group of six players not offered new contracts for the 2005-06 season.

Selectors opted to bring fresh faces into the 25-man group of contracted players, which forms the core of Australia’s Test and one-day squads.

They axed ageing fringe players Martin Love, Ian Harvey, Matthew Elliott, Jimmy Maher and Brad Williams, who had failed to pressure the incumbent starting line up.

Instead, selectors opted for Victorian all-rounder Cameron White, 21, South Australian off-spinner Daniel Cullen, 21, Queensland all-rounder James Hopes, 26, NSW wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, 27, and Victorian quick Michael Lewis, 30.

NSW fast bowler Nathan Bracken, 27, found his way back into the fold after being dropped in 2004-05.

Lehmann was the highest-profile casualty, with chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns confirming the bats and his international career is over after 27 Tests (1798 runs at 44.95).

“We are indicating that it is time for us to look toward the future,” Hohns said. “We are confident that the young players on the contracted list will fill the void left by Darren’s omission.”

Contracted players for 2005-06: Ricky Ponting (captain), Nathan Bracken, Michael Clarke, Daniel Cullen, Adam Gilchrist, Jason Gillespie, Matthew Hayden, Brad Haddin, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, James Hopes, Michael Hussey, Michael Kasprowicz, Simon Katich, Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Michael Lewis, Stuart MacGill, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds, Shaun Tait, Shane Warne, Shane Watson, Cameron White.—AFP