Hayden unclear about his future: Langer

Perth, Dec 18 (IANS) Australian opener Matthew Hayden's retirement talks have gained momentum with close friend Justin Langer saying that the veteran is unclear on taking a final call on his illustrious career.

Hayden, 37, is going through a rough patch and has not scored a century since the final Test of home series against India. He has averaged 22 since returning from the long-term Achilles tendon injury that ruled him out of the tour of the West Indies.

Hayden urgently needs runs or there will be no farewell Ashes tour.

Langer said if Hayden sets the 2009 Ashes as his goal, the runs will follow.

'My gut feeling at the moment - albeit he has had a couple of tough decisions, he has been run out twice in his last four innings - is that maybe he is not sure,' Langer was quoted as saying in the Sydney Morning Herald.

'There are whispers about retirement, about how long he is going to go on for and that can become a distraction.

'If he decides he wants to go to England, brilliant, he will get on (with it) and his mind will allow him to keep scoring runs. If he does not, if there is a bit of a grey area, then he is going to keep going through what is, by his standards, a rough patch. The important thing is to have good communication between the selectors and Matthew Hayden, who is a great player.'

Replacements such as Shaun Marsh, Phillip Hughes and Chris Rogers wait in the wings.