Nantie Hayward (SA)
According to Cricinfo, Mornantau "Nantie" Hayward started his career in 1995 as "a tearaway red-headed fast bowler with attitude and a haphazard run-up" who went on to play 16 tests and 21 ODIs for South Africa. Thirteen years later, we can confirm that there have been a few changes - for starters, these days his hair tends to be blond! He's also sorted his run-up out, and his control has improved vastly - meaning the nickname "wayward Hayward" doesn't really hold true any more! The attitude largely remains though - his raison d'etre is still to bowl as fast as he can, and we suspect he regards batsmen as a minor inconvenience to be eliminated during the journey of the ball between his right hand and the stumps! After an auspicious start to his test career, when he impressed everybody with his willingness to run in on a hot day and bowl on a batsman-friendly track and finished with 4/75, he found himself in and out of the national squad - something that frustrated him to the extent that he signed a contract with Worcestershire for 2003 that precluded him from taking up any international commitments as he had given up hope of selection. However, in 2004 he declared himself available once more and went on to play a further two tests against Sri Lanka. He continued to play first class cricket for Warriors and briefly as an overseas player for Ireland until the end of 2007, when he signed to play for the Kolkata Tigers in the Indian Cricket League. Nantie first played for Lashings on the 2004/5 tour to South Africa and has been a permanent fixture in the side since the 2006 season. During that time he has become one of the most popular players within the Lashings "family" and has also acquired a hitherto unknown reputation as a excellent fielder! The advice from us is simple: if the ball goes anywhere near him, DON'T try for a run!
Click here to see Nantie's profile on Cricinfo (opens in new window)
