AS rain continued to wipe out Yorkshire’s Championship fixture against Glamorgan in Colwyn Bay, the Tykes already have one eye firmly fixed on the impending Friends Life t20 competition by announcing the signing of big hitting South African David Miller.

The left-hander, signed to bring the X-factor to Headingley, will arrive in Yorkshire on Tuesday and is likely to feature in the team’s warm-up matches ahead of the first game against Durham Dynamos at Headingley on Friday.

Miller, who celebrates his 23rd birthday this weekend, has played 16 One-Day Internationals and eight t20 internationals for South Africa and has just completed a stint with Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Yorkshire’s director of cricket Martyn Moxon believes Miller’s dynamic hitting is exactly what the Tykes need in the game’s shortest format: “He’s a hard-hitting batsman. That explosive batting position is an area we feel we need to strengthen and we’re delighted that David’s agreed to join us.”

With Jonny Bairstow’s aggressive strokeplay likely to be absent due to his England one-day commitments, Miller’s penchant for clearing the ropes will boost a side desperate to make their first Finals Day in a competition entering its tenth year.

“You look at his strike-rate, he averages 120-plus per hundred balls, and in the IPL he’s been scoring at 150-plus,” enthused Moxon.

“He is someone that can make an impact very quickly.

“David is available for the whole tournament which made him an attractive proposition.

“He’s not a Chris Gayle who everyone knows, but when you look at his record he’s just what we need.

“David’s going to be a great addition to the squad and he’ll be an exciting player for us,” Moxon concluded.

The t20 format is one the Tykes have never cracked.

But Moxon believes experience gained in recent years will serve to move them up a gear this summer, adding: “It’s our desire to get to Finals Day. We’ve failed to do that as a club so far but with Mitchell Starc and David added to the team we’ve already got what I think is an exciting prospect.

“Last year we had a pretty inexperienced t20 team. But they will be better for that experience and that will stand us in good stead. The more we play this form of the game the better we are going to get.

“Hopefully we can get some consistency we’ve not had in the past over the full ten group games and make it through to Finals Day. I’m excited by the squad we’ve assembled for this campaign.”

Meanwhile, the weather forecast is bleak for today’s final day in Colwyn Bay making it possible the 34 overs bowled on Wednesday will be the only action seen in the match.