Hayward — South Africa’s generation next paceman

The new-found speed merchant Hayward is not a great mover of the ball but has developed the capacity to deliver `perfume balls’ at will and with accuracy. The fire with which he bowled on the first day of the second Test against India at the M Chinnaswamy stadium is just an indication.

Hayward’s fastest delivery was recorded at 147 kmph while that of Donald was 140 kmph. Despite the pitch being tailor-made for spinners (even the last bit of grass was shaved off in the morning), the South African pace battery, especially Hayward proved a point. After scalping rookie Wasim Jaffer early on in the innings he returned to send the world’s best batsman Sachin Tendulkar home. That the Indian captain played a wrong shot is another story.

Coming from a low profile background, Hayward is on his way to becoming the lead bowler for South Africa. Hayward who turns 23 on March 6 (the last day of the Test), is playing in only his fourth Test but has shown greatpotential.

Born in Utenhage, a small town near Port Elizabeth, Hayward was more at home with baseball. He was at the cross roads where he had to choose between baseball and cricket. But when he started getting more wickets than home-runs, he decided to stick to cricket.

Representing his school — Daniel Pienaar Technical High School, he played Eastern Province league in 1994-95 season and was soon playing for the South African schools team (1995). He still represents the Eastern Province where he has bagged 46 wickets in first class cricket thus far.

Thanks to the South African Cricket Board’s talent spotting scheme, he came into prominence at a very young age. Four years later, Hayward was making his Test debut against England (second Test earlier this year). He made his one-day maiden appearance a year earlier.

Hayward was lucky to have former Australian opener Kepler Wessels who later led South Africa to guide him. Wessels, who also captains the Eastern Province has given the right-arm fast bowler enough lessons and confidence and made him a fine bowler.

Initially, Hayward was quick but lacked direction. He was called as `Wayward Hayward’ in his home town. But soon with sheer hard work, he proved to be a winner.

Today, on a placid KSCA pitch he showed that he could still be a handful to the best in the business. Soon, when the fearsome Allan Donald decides to hang his boots South Africa will have another paceman to terrorise batsmen all over the world.