Warne hints at quitting the game

ST JOHN'S ANTIGUA, APRIL 4: Shane Warne said here yesterday that he had been forced to wonder whether he would ever play Test cricket f...

ST JOHN8217;S ANTIGUA, APRIL 4: Shane Warne said here yesterday that he had been forced to wonder whether he would ever play Test cricket for Australia again after being dropped for the fist time in seven years for the crucial fourth Test with the West Indies.

However, Warne, whose 317 wickets in 71 Tests make him Australia8217;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 Australia8217;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.

8220;It8217;s Steve8217;s job to come up with what he thinks is the best team to win, he doesn8217;t want to be the captain that8217;s lost the series,8221; Warne told Australian Associated Press. 8220;When he walks out on the field, he8217;s got to know when he turns to someone that he8217;s got faith in them with theball, that he can do the job. That8217;s why he8217;s picked these 10 blokes plus himself.8221;

8220;I8217;m good friends with Steve and have been for a long time and I don8217;t think this strains the friendship. I respect his decision. Financially I8217;m pretty well off, I8217;ve been lucky enough to play something I love and I8217;ve enjoyed for eight or nine seasons of international cricket,8221; he said.8220;I have always played to win and the biggest enjoyment I have got is playing in teams,8221; Warne said. 8220;When I do finish, whenever that may be, I have got the memories to think about. I don8217;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,8221; Warne said.8220;That8217;s what I play for.

8220;As a senior player, I thought I was a pretty big part of the team but unfortunately that8217;s not the way it falls, this game, so hopefully I8217;ll get another chance,8221; 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 Warne8217;s career ended after the four-Test series for the Frank Worrell Trophy. Marsh said they had agonised about the decision to drop Warne.