Matthew Hayden did not make the big score he needed to ensure that he will be opening the batting for Australia when they defend the Ashes in England this summer and now we must wait and see whether he is about to follow Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist into contented retirement.

The Sydney crowd clearly thought that they were seeing the last of Hayden when they gave the opening batsman a standing ovation all the way back to the pavilion after he had attempted another of those booming drives that have become his trademark and, on 39, for the second time in this third and final Test of the series, dragged the ball on to his stumps.

There was no emotional farewell from Hayden, though, no waving the bat to all parts of the ground, no doffing his green helmet to the members. Just a brisk acknowledgement of the warm applause as he hurried up the pavilion steps.

Unlike those other pillars of the most successful Test team in history, who all knew instinctively when it was time to go, Hayden, 37, has been reluctant to accept that his record in Australia this winter - five Tests, 149 runs at an average of 16.55 - is that of a batsman in decline.

Now, unless he makes the decision for them at the end of this match, the selectors should thank him for his services and try to establish a new opening partnership - presumably Simon Katich and Phil Jaques, who is recovering from back surgery - in the three Tests in South Africa that precede the Ashes tour.

Katich added 61 to his first-innings 47 yesterday and Ricky Ponting hit a brisk 53 before he declared, setting South Africa to score 376 in 116 overs to win and take over from Australia at the top of the ICC rankings.