I will decide when to quit, not selectors: Hayden

8220;I8217;ve got into a habit of not asking too many questions when it comes to selectors over the years. You8217;d have to ask them what their plans are. If I8217;m putting up the performances then it8217;s just a matter of how long I want to play,8221; the 101-Test veteran said.

The broad-shouldered opener, however, admitted he needed to perform well in Melbourne December 26-30 and Sydney January 3-7 if he wanted to continue his career.

8220;Kellie my wife and I have just really put every series into context. We weigh it up, as simple as that. I8217;m not looking to next year8217;s tours of South Africa or England at this stage. I8217;m looking for these next two Test matches. If that performing well is not the case then I8217;m vulnerable like everyone else. I feel like I8217;m buoyant and striking the ball really nicely,8221; he was quoted as saying by 8216;The Age8217;.

The MCG has been a happy hunting ground for Hayden having hit six Test hundreds in the past seven years and he is hoping he would come out of form slump at the Boxing Day match.

8220;I think the Boxing Day Test match is by a long way my favourite Test match. The venue and where we are currently at in the series as well is going to evoke some really great emotions.8221; Hayden admitted the Proteas, who have never won a series in Australia, have prepared exceptionally well.

On Umpiring

Hayden may have been done in by some umpiring howlers in the recent past but Australia opener Matthew Hayden doesn8217;t support the use of technology in Test cricket.

Hayden, who is fighting to keep his career alive with an average of just 23.5 in seven Tests since recovering from an Achilles injury, fell victim to a shocking call last week at the WACA against Australia, a decision for which Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar apologised later.

International Cricket Council will continue its trial of the referral system for umpiring decisions when Australia tour South Africa in February-March, but Hayden is not in favour of use of technology in Test cricket.

Hayden said he likes the human element of cricket umpiring because 8220;some mistakes are made, but we all make mistakes8221;.

8220;I struggle with technology in the game. Maybe that8217;s because I8217;m more old-school. But I don8217;t think that they8217;ve necessarily got the right technology,8221; said the 37-year-old batsman.

8220;The great part of our game is umpires. They have their own fragility and the crowd enjoy the fact that there is some speculation with some decisions. That would be a very, very poor ingredient and certainly a flavour loss in the game if we went to the stage where everything was just so mechanical,8221; he said.

The Australian opener also considers referral system as unnecessary wasting of time. In the drawn first Test between New Zealand and West Indies in Dunedin earlier this month, seven referrals were made to the third match official, which delayed play by 30 minutes in total.

8220;It also causes a lot of stoppages of play as well. Every time things are referred it takes so much time off the game. I know it8217;s maybe an opportunity to go out and grab a pie and some chips but I want to see the game flow,8221; Hayden said.

8220;I enjoy the humanistic side of umpires being involved in our game and if they make a mistake it8217;s 8216;mate you made a mistake, I make mistakes, let8217;s play on8217;.8221;

In Perth, South African paceman Dale Steyn successfully appealed for a caught-and-bowled dismissal even though the ball had ballooned off Hayden8217;s pad with no hint of bat when he was on four. Umpire Aleem Dar later apologised to Hayden saying he got the decision wrong.