However, Warne, whose 317 wickets in 71 Tests make him Australia's second-highest wicket-taker, said he would play in the one-day series against the West Indies and in the World Cup in England in May-June.He said that as Australia's next Test was not for another six months, it gave him ample time to consider his future. Warne said he held no grudge against Steve Waugh despite the Australian captain combining with coach Geoff Marsh to dump him from the fourth Test.

``It's Steve's job to come up with what he thinks is the best team to win, he doesn't want to be the captain that's lost the series,'' Warne told Australian Associated Press. ``When he walks out on the field, he's got to know when he turns to someone that he's got faith in them with theball, that he can do the job. That's why he's picked these 10 blokes plus himself.''

``I'm good friends with Steve and have been for a long time and I don't think this strains the friendship. I respect his decision. Financially I'm pretty well off, I've been lucky enough to play something I love and I've enjoyed for eight or nine seasons of international cricket,'' he said.``I have always played to win and the biggest enjoyment I have got is playing in teams,'' Warne said. ``When I do finish, whenever that may be, I have got the memories to think about. I don't think about the time I got five-for or six-for or went out and got 30-odd, I think about the times we had won the Test match with all the boys together,'' Warne said.``That's what I play for.

``As a senior player, I thought I was a pretty big part of the team but unfortunately that's not the way it falls, this game, so hopefully I'll get another chance,'' he said.

One of the finest leg spinners in the history of cricket, he has taken five wicketsin an innings 14 times and ten in a match on four occasions since making his Test debut against India in Sydney in the 1991-92 season.Marsh and West Indian captain Brian Lara said they would be stunned if Warne's career ended after the four-Test series for the Frank Worrell Trophy. Marsh said they had agonised about the decision to drop Warne.