At a time when some Middlesex players can't be thumb-screwed into signing a contract, Dirk Nannes is queuing up to pen a new deal, writes Jon Batham.

The giant Australian quick bowler was central to the Crusaders' Twenty20 Cup success, his hat-trick against Essex at Chelmsford one of the highlights of a stunning campaign.

And the 32-year-old proved he could be a match winner in Championship cricket too with a career best of 6-32 as Middlesex beat Worcester last week.

Yet the left-arm bowler doesn't yet have a contract for the upcoming Stanford Series, let alone the 2009 season.

Nannes is desperately keen to stay, and admits his timely six-wicket haul won't have done his chances any harm.

He said: "I'd really like to stay. Lord's is a great place to play, and it's a great bunch of lads.

"From a personal perspective, the six wickets was great. My form has been a bit indifferent lately, and I haven't taken a truckload of wickets.

"So it was good to put a few devils to bed and prove I could get everyone nicking the ball again."

Inevitably, fans will point to the money being thrown at Twenty20 competitions like the Stanford trip as sufficient enticement for wanting a new contract.

But for man who until this season hadn't played outside Australia, Nannes insists it's as much about the adventure as it is cash.

He said: "Cricket has been a different path for me. Lots of the boys at Middlesex have travelled a lot with the game, spending their winters in weird and wonderful places.

"But before this year I've never really travelled with my cricket to places like India or Dubai, and to go to the West Indies is not something I would normally get the chance to do."

There is another incentive for the Aussie to be on the plane to the Caribbean - Middlesex's clash with England being part of the programme for next month's tournament.

Nannes added: "It would be nice to soften up a few Englishman and rap a few fingers ahead of the Ashes series next year.

"Not that I want to injure people, but just scare them a little bit."