On the face of it, this Thunder squad can challenge, but history tells us it takes more than talent to slalom through the competition and it will take some good fortune along the way to deliver a return to the latter stages
Sydney Thunder reached the eliminator in January and felt unfortunate to be dumped out via DLS against Brisbane Heat, 52 for 1 in the seventh over in a run-chase of 204 when conditions caused an early finish.
David Warner was unbeaten on 36 at the time, and he is expected to be more readily available than in previous years once he retires from Test cricket following the swansong appearance against Pakistan that has come in for fierce criticism from former teammate Mitchell Johnson.
Warner will be a big sell and a major addition to a generally settled side, captained these days by Jason Sangha. Alex Hales is a long-time Thunder veteran overseas, while Chris Green and Daniel Sams are ever-improving T20 cricketers.
They have reached the knockout stage in each of the last four seasons but have only ever reached the final in 2016, when Usman Khawaja starred against Melbourne Stars. Green is the only survivor from that side, which had Jacques Kallis, Shane Watson, Michael Hussey and Andre Russell in its top five.
Coach: Trevor Bayliss
The former England head coach knows what it takes to win trophies, having won the World Cup with England, the IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders and also the Big Bash with city rivals Sydney Sixers. He is tasked with ending Thunder's drought.
Captain: Jason Sangha
Sangha missed much of last season through injury, but the 24-year-old is highly regarded, having played under Shane Watson, Callum Ferguson, Usman Khawaja and Chris Green already in a short career. He also captained Australia at under-19 level.
How strong is the batting?
As ever, much of the run-scoring burden will fall on Alex Hales, for whom Thunder has become something of a second home. He passed fifty three times in nine innings last time around and loves playing in Australia. The former England batter has is joined in Sydney by new recruit Cameron Bancroft, who has moved on from Perth Scorchers to start afresh under Bayliss.
David Warner is part of the squad ahead of his final Test appearance against Pakistan, while at the other end of his career Ollie Davies has signed a contract extension.
Alex Ross has long been a consistent source of Big Bash runs and was consistent without being spectacular last season, while captain Jason Sangha, who missed much of the last campaign with a broken collarbone, is fit and ready to go. Matthew Gilkes, the wicketkeeper, was a useful source of runs in his absence; only Davies, who was the solitary Thunder batter past 300 runs, scored more than Gilkes.
Daniel Sams is known for his bowling in the main, but there are few more dangerous finishers on the circuit at present, and the allrounder was in extraordinary touch for Essex during the summer's T20 Blast.
Alex Hales leads an exciting Thunder line-up (Mark Evans/Getty Images)
How strong is the bowling?
Franchise regulars Sams and Chris Green are the core of the bowling attack – one a left-arm seamer, the other a wily off-spinner – and they combined for 32 wickets between them last season.
This time around, they are joined by Pakistan quick Zaman Khan, brought in as his stock rises – he was another, like Sams, to enjoy a profitable T20 Blast, albeit with Derbyshire rather than Essex.
Liam Hatcher is another new recruit; he has swapped one shade of green for another, moving from Melbourne Stars to Thunder, where he was previously on the staff between the sixth and ninth editions of this tournament without playing a game.
Tanveer Sangha will be key; he was part of Australia's provisional World Cup squad and was ever-present in the subsequent T20I series against India. He only turned 22 at the end of November but made his ODI debut in September and has featured in both Major League Cricket and The Hundred as he grows in stature.
Nathan McAndrew, another who was part of this year's Blast, will lead the seam attack alongside Zaman. He has enjoyed a terrific start to Australia's domestic summer. Gurinder Sandhu also has a Sheffield Shield five-fer this season.
Why should the fans be excited?
The prospect of David Warner and Alex Hales at the top of the order promises to be entertaining; Hales has retired from international cricket but Warner still has the T20 World Cup on his mind despite his upcoming end of his Test career.
The addition of Bancroft adds depth and experience of winning with the Perth Scorchers juggernaut, while Sams has enjoyed a fine T20 year. Green and Sangha are both recent T20I debutants, while the signings of Hatcher and Zaman bolster a seam attack already looking in decent order, with McAndrew bowling superbly at present.
Dan Christian, the serial franchise competition winner, has joined the coaching staff.
Tanveer Sangha returns after missing last summer with a stress fracture (INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images)
Why fans should be worried?
Beaten in the eliminator last season, there haven't been wholesale changes either way. Much depends on the opening pair and whether Warner's availability causes the upturn in results that it ought to, while Jason Sangha will hope to be unafflicted by injury after his 2022/23 frustration.
On the face of it, this is a squad with the ability to challenge, with several individuals – Warner, Hales, Davies, Green, Sams, McAndrew, Zaman, Tanveer Sangha – all playing well.
Squad: Jason Sangha (c), Cameron Bancroft, Ollie Davies, Matt Gilkes, Chris Green, Alex Hales, Liam Hatcher, Nathan McAndrew, Blake Nikitaras, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Gurinder Sandhu, Tanveer Sangha, David Warner, Zaman Khan
Fixtures: December 12 – Brisbane Heat (Manuka Oval, 8.15am GMT), December 19 – Adelaide Strikers (Adelaide Oval, 8.15am), December 23 – Melbourne Stars (Albury, 4.30am), December 27 – Brisbane Heat (The Gabba, 8.15am), December 30 – Sydney Sixers (Sydney Showground Stadium, 8.15am), January 1 – Hobart Hurricanes (Blundstone Arena, 5am), January 8 – Perth Scorchers (Sydney Showground Stadium, 8.15am), January 12 – Sydney Sixers (SCG, 8.15am), January 14 – Adelaide Strikers (Manuka Oval, 8.15am), January 17 – Melbourne Renegades (Sydney Showground Stadium, 8.15am)
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