Matthew Hayden's wife says the opener is trying his best for Australia
In-between mothering their children in the creche at the Sydney Cricket Ground's new Victor Trumper Stand, Kellie watched most of Hayden's innings and said she would always be proud of his achievements, no matter what.
"We haven't been reading a lot of what has been written," she said.
"Matthew's way is to give his best every time. Nothing changes there."
Evidence is mounting against Hayden continuing at international level.
Some say the champion, 37, may have as few as three or four sleeps left as an Australia player.
Few of the 35,000 at the SCG on Saturday could draw any other conclusion as an exasperated Hayden tossed his gloves into the gutter in front of the members stand on his way back to the Australia rooms after his ninth failure in his past 10 innings.
The applause was measured and sympathetic, Hayden knowing only too well his laboured 150-minute innings added further pressure for his omission from next month's tour of South Africa.
As in Melbourne, there was little of the bullying assurance that made him such a formidable opponent only a year ago.
Former Australian and South African cricketer Kepler Wessels, in Sydney as a commentator, said: "Only Matthew will know when the time is right."
"I was 37, Matthew's age, when I retired. In my case I couldn't do it like I wanted. I just knew it was the right time."
Former Australia Test player Brian Booth said the sheer skill of the South African side also needed to be aligned with Hayden's form slump.
"They bowl such an impeccable line," he said. "They close you down. It's not only Matthew who is struggling."