Taylor still to decide on availability for Caribbean tour

``There's a chance of that but as I've said I've got to do some serious thinking,'' Taylor said during New South Wales' Sheffield Shield match with Tasmania here.

``One thing that not playing the one-dayers has done is given me a chance to get away from the game and make a good value decision rather than a hasty one.

``I've always said I'll keep playing as long as I'm enjoying the game.

``The game has given me a lot of good times, no doubt about it.

``The Ashes series was good although I didn't finish off as well myself.

``I've had a very good career as a player and a very enjoyable one as a captain. I've had a good time, it's just whether I want to go do the tours that come up during the year -- West Indies and Sri Lanka.

``That's what I've got to make a decision about.''

Taylor intended to retire after the recent Ashes series, with the final Test at his home Sydney Cricket Ground being his 50th as captain.

But when the murky Shane Warne-Mark Waugh bookmaker affair surfaced last month, after being covered up for four years, he was prompted to review those plans.

The 34-year-old Test skipper subsequently told the selectors and the Australian Cricket Board he was available for the Caribbean, if required, and that remains the situation.

``I've still got a week to make a final decision so I'll be discussing that further with the people who spend most of the time in my life, mainly my family, particularly my wife,'' said Taylor.

It appears the constant demands of touring on a player with a wife and two young children is weighing heavily on his mind.

Australia's 15-man squad will be named on February 8 and Taylor will advise the selectors of his availability next weekend.

Taylor took over the captaincy when Allan Border retired in mid-1994 and has led Australia to 26 victories in 50 Tests, winning 11 out of 13 series. He is regarded as one of Australian cricket's greatest captains.

He is only the second captain in Test history after Clive Lloyd to win four away series.

Australia play four Tests in the West Indies in March to be followed in August by one Test in Zimbabwe and three in Sri Lanka.