CRICKET: Series win enthuses Taylor

MARK TAYLOR, the Australian captain said yesterday he had postponed plans to retire from Test cricket because of his team's historic series victory over Pakistan: "I've had a very good series myself. If that keeps continuing, well I'll keep playing for Australia."

Taylor considered quitting Test cricket two years ago when his batting slumped and also thought about retiring when replaced by Steve Waugh last term as captain of Australia's limited-overs team.

Taylor added: "This series has been fantastic. I've been a winning captain, I've been man of the series, made 500 runs, made a triple century in test cricket... Everything went right.

He was named Player of the Series against Pakistan after an unbeaten 334 in the second Test at Peshawar to equal Sir Don Bradman's record for an Australian in a Test innings.

England's Ashes hopefuls may be more at home than they expect in Australia if the weather for yesterday's Queensland v New South Wales Sheffield Shield fixture in Canberra is a guide. Queensland's batsmen had to contend with snow and ice. Ice formed on opener Jimmy Maher's headgear amid showers of sleet and snow.