Matthew Hayden said he is not certain of making the trip to England for next year's Ashes after a poor show in India.

Injury, loss of confidence and Zaheer Khan's swing meant the prolific batsman with more than 8000 runs in Test cricket managed just 234 in four Tests against India at an average of 33.42.

The opener acknowledged that he does not consider himself a certainty in next year's Ashes tour and said he is taking his career game by game.

"I reckon there is a chance of that always. When you get to my age, you get to a point where the next 12 months is a long, long way away. But having said that, I have been really process-driven right the way through my career," said Hayden.

"It's all been about how I was going to present myself for this Test match and whether I was in good shape to play. I feel like both of those are crossed off. Both (wife) Kellie and I have really kept it as simple as that," Hayden was quoted as saying in the 'Herald Sun'.

Hayden also said he needs to ask himself whether he has the urge and the fire in his belly to represent Australia.

"There are two answers that I need to say to myself before I present myself for Australia. One of them is, am I willing to make the sacrifices to be the best athlete I can be, whatever that takes? "And the second is, is that fire burning within me to play good cricket for Australia - or anyone else that I'll be playing for, for that matter?"