Sydney, Jan.7 (ANI): Australia’s cricket selectors are likely to give opening batsman Mathew Hayden a tap on the shoulder, saying that probably his stint in international cricket is over after over 15 years of yeoman service.

The Daily Telegraph says that Hayden is tipped to be axed from Australia”s one-day and Twenty20 squads today, and this could be the final straw.

Though the struggling batting veteran has given no clear signal about his retirment plans, his former batting partner Michael Slater believes he has had a horror summer of just 149 runs at 16.55 from five Tests, and that it was time to celebrate his glorious 103-Test career.

“The selectors” hands will be shown by what they do with the one-day squad. If he is to be dropped it is the cycle of the game. He”s had a fabulous career and I think there”s a lot to celebrate. If there is a change to be made, let”s make it, if that”s the way they feel. All I”m sensing from him is that he wants to keep playing. I don”t think the selectors and Ricky are ready to let him go,” the paper quoted Slater, as saying.

Bowled for 39, Hayden gave a couple of bat waves to the cheering crowd but there was no grand flourish to suggest he may never be seen again.

Wife Kellie looked near tears as she stood and applauded – perhaps an indication she knew something the rest of the cricket world was waiting to hear.

Mike Hussey last night declared he would be stunned if Hayden retired and claimed he did not sense anything different in the SCG dressing room.

“He (Hayden) hasn”t said anything to us. From what I see from inside the camp he is still very hungry to score runs. I”m not seeing any signs that he wants to call it a day. Today he was pretty calm, he put his gear down and he didn”t say too much,” said Hussey.

Former Australian great Doug Walters claiming the opener should get his wish to play on to a swan song Ashes campaign.

“We do need some experienced players to continue on for a little while, particularly for the Ashes tour, and I would like to see him still be there,” Walters said.

“I”d like to see Matty go out on his own will, not go out on the selectors” axing block.
“Matty knows better than I do when his time will be up. If it is up, I say congratulations. If it”s not, I wish him every success,” Walters added.

However, Walters also endorsed boom 20-year-old NSW batsman Phillip Hughes as Hayden”s potential replacement.

“Phillip Hughes is a young guy, keen and got a big future ahead of him. He would be my first choice,” Walters said.

Pace bowling great Glenn McGrath claimed Australia needed Hayden to play on for his aura in a time of transitional change, while Shane Warne also backed him to bat on.
Former Test wicketkeeper Ian Healy believes national selectors want Hayden for the Ashes. But he also wonders how much gas Hayden had left in the tank.

Slater feels that Hughes, at 20, is in the same position as players such as Hayden, Justin Langer, Damien Marytn, Ricky Ponting and himself, who were all given chances in their early 20s. (ANI)