Middlesex sign Styris and Hayward

Scott Styris: first season in English domestic cricket © Getty Images

Middlesex's close-season recruitment drive continued with the announcement that they have signed Scott Styris and re-signed Nantie Hayward for next summer.

"We needed to add depth to our batting and Scott gives us that," John Emburey, Middlesex's coach, told the BBC. "Added to that, he's a more than useful bowler. He's very strong in one-day cricket and will make a very good third of fourth seamer. As for Nantie, we believe he will become a match-winning bowler."

Hayward disappointed in 2004 with 31 wickets at 29.61 but Emburey said that he was a quality player. "He will become a match-winning bowler. The pitches didn't help his style of bowling, and Lord's is particularly flat. But we saw enough to snap him up for next season."

It will be Styris's first crack at English domestic cricket and he replaces the South African Lance Klusener.

Last week, Middlesex confirmed that they had signed Ed Smith on a two-year deal.