Hayden faces one-day axe

After a poor run of form that has coincided with the remarkable rise of Michael Clarke, Matthew Hayden is facing the axe from Australia's one-day side.

Clarke was awarded the prestigious Allan Border Medal on Monday after a stunning start to his international career, which has included debut Test centuries both home and away, and a stunning return in the VB Series, in which he has made 364 runs at 91.

Hayden, by contrast, has managed just 42 runs at 10.5 in four one-day games this summer, and faces being dropped for this week's best-of-three finals against Pakistan, and the forthcoming one-day tour of New Zealand.

"It is one of our major decisions," Border, who presented Clarke with the award that was named in his honour at a glitzy ceremony in Melbourne, admitted to the Sydney Morning Herald. "We might have to make the hard call. Hayden's been fantastic over a long period of time and it might just be he's on the threshold, or it might be time to give Clarkey his head."

Clarke has been a fixture in Australia's one-day side for two years, but it is since he was promoted to open the innings that his career has really taken off. He has made 392 runs and two centuries at 98 in six innings, and Hayden, who has appeared increasingly listless in a disappointing season, might benefit from some time away from the international spotlight, especially with a big Ashes summer approaching in June and July.

"After four great years, this might just be the little speed bump in his career he had to have," said Border. "He's such a quality player, and we have to consider whether we let him work it out on the big stage, or do you say, 'He's just struggling a little bit' and let him go back and play without the glare of the big stage. It's a tough one."

Clarke himself played down the prospects of such a dramatic move from the selectors. "[In Hayden and Adam Gilchrist], we have two of the greatest openers in the world in one-day cricket . . . Matty's run has been so good and you just can't continue doing that all the time. I'm happy batting where I'm batting because that's where I belong in this great Australian side."

Trevor Hohns, the chairman of selectors, said Australia would pick their best side for the finals. "The resting process was for some of the senior players who have played both forms of the game for some time," Hohns told the Australian. "It's more about man management to make sure they had a bit of a break because we've got New Zealand and quite an important Ashes series looming."

There is a further incentive for Hayden to take some time off. His wife, Kellie, is due to give birth to their second child.