Don’t think Kieron Pollard’s destructive innings against Australia in St Lucia on Friday was purely instinct.

On the eve of the fourth one-dayer Pollard sent watching onlookers and groundstaff scurrying for cover as he belted ball after ball into the empty stands of the Beausejour Stadium.

And that practice paid off big time as the allrounder belted eight sixes on his way to a 70-ball 102 which delivered a 42-run win for the Windies and an unbeatable lead in the five-game series.

The imposing right-hander said his hitting session the day before had been a vital aspect to his match-winning knock.

“Obviously it helps a lot,” he said.

“You get a feel of the ground and a indication of where you can hit the ball. How the breeze is going to blow, that sort of thing.

“Getting that opportunity to do that is all about fine-tuning yourself and learning what is the right one to hit.”

Pollard is familiar to Australian supporters after his stint with South Australia in the domestic Twenty20 competition a couple of years ago.

He said his time in Adelaide gave him the opportunity to become familiar with many of the Australian bowlers he was now facing in this series.

“They’re a hard bunch of guys and whenever you step onto a cricket field, playing with them or against them, they play their cricket hard and intense,” he said.

“It’s a matter of me knowing their strengths and weaknesses and using that to my advantage.”

Whether Pollard plays any role in the upcoming Test series against Australia or heads to the riches of the Indian Premier League remains unclear but after his display on Friday you’d think selectors would be doing all they can to ensure he is available.