A defiant Matthew Hayden has said that his future in Tests is up to him and not in the Australian selectors’ hand, as long as he keeps making runs.
MELBOURNE: A defiant Matthew Hayden has said that his future in Tests is up to him and not in the Australian selectors’ hand, as long as he keeps making runs.
Hayden is facing a run chase of his own after scoring 282 runs at 23.5 in seven Tests since recovering from an Achilles injury, The Age reported.
The opener admitted he needed to perform well in Melbourne and Sydney (January 3-7) if he wanted to continue his career.
“I’ve got into a habit of not asking too many questions when it comes to selectors over the years. You’d have to ask them what their plans are. If I’m putting up the performances then it’s just a matter of how long I want to play,” Hayden said.
“I really want to play good Test-match cricket for this next series and then see where we’re at. Kellie my wife and I have just really put every series into context. We weigh it up, as simple as that. I’m not looking to (next year’s tours of) South Africa or England at this stage,” he added.
Hayden has hit six Test hundreds at the MCG in the past seven years. “I think (the) Boxing Day Test match is by a long way my favourite Test match,” he said. “The venue (and) where we are currently at in the series as well is going to evoke some really great emotions.”
Hayden admitted that the Proteas — who have never won a series in Australia — have prepared exceptionally well.
But while Hayden has backed himself to fight his way through a career-threatening form slump, Australia also face injury dramas ahead of Friday’s second Test against South Africa, which the home side need to win to keep the three-Test series alive.
“Symmo at the moment is in reasonable shape. He has got a sore knee but they are sort of erring just on the fact that things will calm down over a number of days,” The Age quoted Hayden, as saying. “Symmo in our side just adds a great characteristic and
flavour as well. We really want him to get up,” he added.
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