"If I’m putting up performances it’s just a matter of how long I want to play," said the Big Mathew Hayden.
"It’s still all about performance," he added. "To my mind, as I said at the start, my expectation is that I’m performing every Test match. And if that’s not the case then I’m vulnerable like everyone else."
"I’m not looking ahead to South Africa or England at this stage. I’m just looking ahead to the next two Test matches, the two most exciting Test matches of the summer."
"If I was out in the middle thinking ‘gee, I’m really struggling with the bat and really not hitting the ball well, I’m not enjoying it’… I’m not anywhere near that right now," he said.
"I’m still enjoying it. I still feel like I’m hitting the ball well – a touch of luck would be nice."
"But that’s professional sport and that’s the sword we dive onto. It’s the great challenge that I really enjoy."
"The day that comes when I can come sit here and face you guys and say I don’t want to play cricket anymore for Australia, if that’s a forced decision then that’s a forced decision."
"You feel slightly uncomfortable, slightly uneasy about it but that’s part of the great challenge of playing for your country and exactly why I want to play Test match cricket for Australia," he added.
"I think my expectations have been a good measure and held me in good stead for a 20-year career. My expectations are to perform all the time. But you all know you’re up and down in the cycle of life and up and down in the cycle of professional sport."
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