Melbourne: Clearing the air on speculation about his retirement, Australia opening batsman Matthew Hayden Wednesday said he would reassess his future after the Test series against South Africa ends next month.

“I’m still enjoying the game. I’ve still got a role to play as a senior player,” Hayden was quoted as saying by an Australian news agency.

The 37-year-old has been under fire recently owing to a slump in form that has seen him make 282 runs at 23.5 in seven Tests since recovering from an Achilles injury.

“I’ve got to perform as we’ve all got to perform, because that’s the expectation of Australian cricket. I really want to play good Test match cricket for this next series and then see where we are at,” he said.

Hayden also said he was taking one series at a time and not looking at the 2009 Ashes yet.

“We’ve still got one-dayers and a long summer ahead of us. 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, I’m looking at these next two Test matches,” he said.

Meanwhile, asserting that Matthew Hayden was past his “use-by date”, pace legend Jeff Thomson Wednesday said he would have sacked the embattled opener had he been in the Australian cricket team’s selection panel.

“Matty is a friend and while I’ve got nothing against him, I do think he’s past his use-by date,” the legendary pacer, who took 200-Test wickets, was quoted as saying by an Australian daily. (PTI)