By IANS,
Melbourne : As Australian cricket opener Matthew Hayden mentally prepares himself for his retirement, chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch hoped that the batsman would continue till the 2009 Ashes tour of England.
“I hope he is thinking his goal is still to go to the Ashes,” Hilditch was quoted as saying by The Age.
The 37-year-old Hayden is expected to take a decision before the Boxing Day Test starting Friday against South Africa whether he wants to play through next year’s Ashes series, or retire at the conclusion of the ongoing series.
The uncertainty over his career has also affected his form since his return from an Achilles injury.
Hayden met selectors earlier this year and expressed his desire to play through next year’s tours of South Africa and England before leaving the game.
His departure would leave selectors with a difficult decision ahead of the tours of South Africa and England.