Johannesburg, Jan. 12: Former South African fast bowler Allan Donald, also known as the "White Lightning" when he was playing, still believes Australia needs veteran opening batsman Mathew Hayden for the forthcoming tough tours to South Africa and England.

Though the writing is on the wall for Hayden after he was dumped from the one-day and Twenty20 Australian squads following his horror run in the 2-1 Test series loss to the Proteas, Donald told the Sydney Morning Herald: "They need a guy like him, he is such a big presence. He''s a bloke that if he plays well, everyone in his side plays well.

"You never know, after having a break [from the one-day, Twenty20 games] something could click and away you go. I still feel he is a couple of knocks away from some serious scores," Donald said, adding he "wouldn''t be surprised" if Hayden made another Ashes tour.

"I just think it is a little too early for him to go. I believe he may have two years in him, and wouldn''t be surprised if he had another Ashes campaign," he said.

"But the selectors have indicated that they would have to rethink his future. We''ll soon find out if he will go to South Africa, let alone the Ashes tour." (ANI)