Hayden says he will not be forced into retirement

Despite being dropped from the squad for the forthcoming one-day and Twenty20 series against South Africa, Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden says he will not be forced into retirement from his 103-Test career and that the next fortnight will determine whether he quits on his terms.

The 37-year old veteran flew home to Brisbane yesterday with wife Kellie and their three children for a period of introspection that will help decide whether he attempts to tour South Africa next month and England for the Ashes series later in the year.

At the crossroads after a distinguished career as opening batsman in all three forms of the game, Hayden said yesterday his future will be decided by the "man in the mirror".

"That is not just a position I have had, it's gone before me as well, guys looking at themselves in the mirror and saying, 'Maybe it is time to gou00a0... or saddle up, pull your socks up, get on with South Africa and the Ashes.'"

Hayden, a devout Catholic, who could muster only 117 runs at an average of 19.5 in the Test series against South Africa which ended on Wednesday said: "The flame does burn within me and I guess that may be the hardest part to reckon with. That little voice deep inside will keep kicking Matthew Hayden along.

"I think it is in my court. I will take that time because I respect the game and I respect this team and if I don't feel I'm contributing to that culture, not just in runs but in terms of being a senior player and a bit of a custodian to the old school of our great game, then I will be knocking on their (the selectors') doors.

"If mates are telling me it's time to go I would certainly listen to that. But my mates aren't saying that. The people who do understand the difficulties of our role as cricketers aren't saying that."

Captain Ricky Ponting is on record as saying after the Sydney Test that he would like to see Hayden continue playing Tests and chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch is known to retain his faith in the explosive opener.