Clarke, who was signed by the Pune Warriors IPL team earlier this season, joined them after Australia's Test tour of the West Indies. Across his six matches he averaged 16.33, at a scoring rate of just over a run a ball, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

According to the paper, while Pune had five Australians on its books last season, Mitch Marsh was the only one retained, with Steve Smith, Callum Ferguson and James Hopes discarded along with Clarke, whose lucrative contract was not disclosed because he was not signed at auction.

The most significant change since the end of last season has been the expulsion of the Deccan Chargers due to a financial dispute with Indian cricket board. As a result, a new licence has been issued by the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) in India, with the former Chargers team still to be based in Hyderabad but with new owners, the paper said.

Several other Australian cricketers were also ditched by their respective IPL teams, and will be given the option of entry in the next player auction.

Here are the names of all Australian players who have been discarded from the IPL: