Hayden: Future all about form

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The 37-year-old left-hander, who has an average of less than 24 in his past seven Tests and is without a century since January, acknowledged he needed to make runs in Melbourne and Sydney or he could be involuntarily retired by selectors.

"If I'm putting up performances it's just a matter of how long I want to play," said Hayden ahead of the Boxing Day Test with the Proteas at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where he has posted six centuries from his past seven Tests.

Hayden stressed he was still enjoying his cricket and is fully focused on the remainder of the series, with Australia seeking to overturn a 1-0 deficit after South Africa`s victory in Perth.

He has not thought about the 2009 tours to South Africa and England, but expects to perform at the MCG.

"It's still all about performance," he added. "To my mind, as I said at the start, my expectation is that I'm performing every Test match. And if that's not the case then I'm vulnerable like everyone else.

"I'm not looking ahead to South Africa or England at this stage. I'm just looking ahead to the next two Test matches, the two most exciting Test matches of the summer."

Hayden would have no hesitation in retiring if he was struggling both in and outside the nets, but only the latter was the case at present.

"If I was out in the middle thinking 'gee, I'm really struggling with the bat and really not hitting the ball well, I'm not enjoying it'... I'm not anywhere near that right now," he said.

"I'm still enjoying it. I still feel like I'm hitting the ball well - a touch of luck would be nice.