Surrey cricket manager Chris Adams says Australian wildman Andrew Symonds is just the sort of signing the Lions need for their coming Twenty20 campaign.

The Brit Oval outfit confirmed the 34-year-old, who has endured a numerous off-field troubles, as their second overseas player for this season’s Friends Provident T20 competition.

Symonds’ on-field ability is beyond question with a Twenty20 average of 37 and the quickest ever hundred - from 34 balls - in domestic cricket under his belt.

And Adams believes his reputation away from the game will not matter if he delivers results on the pitch as he has done in Indian Premier League with the Deccan Chargers.

“I have to admit there is part of me that is attracted to broken souls,” he said.

“If we can provide an environment for him to re-invent and repair himself it could be a win-win situation for us.

“The old saying goes that you want people who will die for their county, well I want people who live for their county and perhaps Andrew knows better than most how to do that.

“It all comes down to performances though and if Andrew can continue putting in the sort of performances we have seen from him in India recently, then everything will be fine."

He added: "He will add a huge ‘X Factor’ to our squad in the Friends Provident T20.

“I have watched him take apart some of the best bowlers in the world and am hugely excited to see him exhibit his skills in front of packed houses around the country."