Sydney, Dec 20 : Australian opener Matthew Hayden's future is likely to be decided at the end of the summer after coach Tim Nielsen conceded his struggles atop the order were putting pressure on other teammates.

Nielsen hinted on Friday that Hayden had made a private decision about his future but the coach also admitted that circumstances were conspiring against the star opener, The Age reported.

The veteran left-hander appeared indecisive in his stroke making and troubled by the pace and swing of Dale Steyn.

Nielsen remains confident that Hayden can recover from his form trough, but the coach also acknowledged that the 37-year-old's low scores were putting pressure on the middle order and expected his future would be discussed after the series.

"I suppose at the end of this series we will sit down and see where he is at. It will make it more difficult if his scores are not as consistent as where he would like them to be but I think we've just got to be patient and understand that," Nielsen said.

"He will nick a couple and he will get run out, which was unfortunate in Adelaide, he will get a couple of good balls and every now and again the decisions don't go your way. That is the caper, and he will keep chugging along and I am sure over the next six months we will all know exactly where he stands," he said.

"It's nice for the rest of the team to have him putting a platform up. We've had Ricky in inside the first 10 overs a few times now and that starts to wear the middle and top order down a bit. So our opening batters know they've got a job to set up a platform for the middle order," Nielsen added.

On whether Hayden had made a decision on his future, Neilsen said: "I think he has in his own way. He just might not have come out and said it publicly. He is still playing for Australia and hasn't even contemplated too much not going here and not going there."

Hayden will no doubt welcome the introduction of the umpire-referral system for Australia's tour of South Africa - provided he makes the tour. (ANI)