Nanty Hayward has been signed up by Kwazulu-Natal Nashua Dolphins for the 2005-06 season. Hayward, the former South African and Eastern Cape fast bowler, is currently playing for Middlesex in the English county season, and will join Dolphins in September.

Phil Russell, the Dolphins' coach, and Enver Mall, the chief executive of Dolphins, were both upbeat about their latest recruit. "Hayward is a genuine opening bowler with pace and I am confident that he will do well at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead," Russell was quoted as saying on dolphinscricket.co.za. "He had a good last season with the Eastern Cape Warriors in both first-class and limited-overs cricket."

Mall, meanwhile, hoped that this move would help Hayward return to the South African team. "I believe that joining the Nashua Dolphins may be the boost that Hayward needs at this stage of his career to get back into the South African team."

Hayward has taken 54 wickets in 16 Tests, but the last time he figured in the national team was in Sri Lanka in 2004, when he returned unimpressive figures of 1 for 90 from 20 overs. He has enjoyed bowling at Kingsmead, though - in two Tests, he has nine wickets at 21.44, a significant improvement on his career average of 29.79.