Sydney Thunder quick Dirk Nannes is confident of a vastly improved showing from his side in this summer’s Big Bash League.

The Thunder have finished last in all three years of the competition and tasted victory just once last season.

They open their campaign on Sunday at ANZ Stadium against Brisbane Heat with a new-look side that Nannes hopes can challenge at the top of table.

Exciting young quick Patrick Cummins and South African great Jacques Kallis augment a side that already boasts England’s Eoin Morgan and Mike Hussey.

“It will be pretty disappointing if we went as bad as last year,” Nannes told AAP.

“I think the difference this year is that everyone knows we have a good team.

“So often, you crap on and say everything is going to be good. But then you sit there in your quiet times and realise you’re not that great.

“But this year, I think we have a pretty good team.”

In addition to Kallis and Cummins, Queensland’s hard-hitting wicketkeeper Chris Hartley and the wily allrounder Andrew McDonald have also been signed.

Last year, the Thunder were unable to call on David Warner and Michael Clarke for much of the series due to Test commitments and struggled for momentum.

“We might lose Pat, and maybe Morgan to England this year, but we should have most of us available,” Nannes said.

“Usman Khawaja’s injury is a loss, but I think the team have done well to recruit players, Pat aside, that you not are going to lose to Australian duty.”

The signing of Kallis, a player with more than 13,000 Test runs and 292 wickets to his name, is a huge boost for the Thunder and Nannes, who’s played for a large number of teams around the world, is looking forward to getting to know him.

“I’ve played against him a few times, but our paths have never crossed before,” he said.

“He’s obviously a great player and it will be good fun to have him here.”