ALL-ROUNDER Mark Hardinges was the shock name as Gloucestershire's new director of cricket John Bracewell wasted no time in wielding the axe.

Seam bowlers Carl Greenidge and Will Rudge, and another all-rounder Ian Fisher, will not have their contracts renewed for 2009, with all four being released at the end of this season.

Hardinges has been a regular for the county this season in all forms of the game, but the 30-year-old has been made to pay for his slightly inconsistent form.

He made his first class debut in 1999 and achieved his County Championship bowling best of 5-51 in 2005 against Kent.

In the 2007 season he took 42 wickets across all competitions and scored a total of 744 runs.

He has taken a total of 94 first class wickets and has scored four first class hundreds.

Fisher moved to Gloucestershire from Yorkshire in 2002 but has struggled to hold down a regular place in the side, particularly in the longer form of the game.

Paceman Greenidge took 28 wickets in the County Championship last season with a best of 5-54 against Leicestershire, but has often frustrated with his wayward bowling.

Rudge worked his way through the age group squads before making his County debut against Sussex at Cheltenham in 2005 but his opportunities have been limited this year.