SOUTH Australia has added more firepower to its batting line-up through the recruitment of explosive West Indian batsman Kieron Pollard for this summer’s Big Bash Twenty20 series.

Just two days after the Redbacks announced Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi would be leading the South Australia’s attack in the competition, the state’s high performance manager Jamie Cox announced Pollard’s recruitment.

Pollard’s appearance for South Australia will come as a rude shock for New South Wales when the two states meet on January 17 next year in Sydney.

The towering batsman blasted 54 from just 18 balls as he helped Trinidad and Tobago claim a preliminary round victory over the Blues in the recent Champions League Twenty20 tournament.

Pollard couldn’t quite repeat the performance in the tournament’s final, however, but was still his side’s top scorer with 26 from 15 balls.

“We have been talking with Pollard for a while, even before his match-winning efforts in the Champions League,” Cox said on Thursday.

“And, we were thrilled to secure his signature on Tuesday night.”

“The addition of both Shahid Afridi and Kieron Pollard will add an explosive dimension to the Redbacks’ KFC Twenty20 Big Bash campaign this summer.”

“(It) will provide fans with a fantastic opportunity to watch one of the most exciting ball-strikers in the game today.