Strap in Canberra - Manuka Oval is going to sizzle this summer as the Sydney Thunder unleash the Big Bash's most explosive pace attack.
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On the cusp of his third season in charge, head coach Shane Bond finally has a squad at his disposal capable of winning the entire competition.
And his fingerprints are all over the bowling attack which gets its first crack of the season against the Melbourne Stars in Canberra on Saturday afternoon.
Fresh-faced Adam Milne has joined this summer, a former New Zealand international capable of ticking the speed gun over 150 km/h.
He joins Big Bash sensation Daniel Sams, whose 30 wickets last season was a competition high, and former Aussie quick Chris Tremain another speedster capable of rattling opposition batsmen.
Brendan Doggett and ACT Comet Nathan McAndrew round out the specialist pace bowling contingent, while the prized signing of Queensland all rounder Ben Cutting gives Bond and captain Callum Ferguson a sixth seam option.
"Bondy's arm stretches quite wide, he spends a lot of time in the IPL, all over the world and he's a very well renowned coach," Tremain said.
"He's got the ability to be able to find these players and has a really good connection with a lot of these players in New Zealand.
"I've never played against Adam Milne, but I've seen him play. Ben Cutting I've played a lot against.
"Milne will add a bit more ball speed, Cuttsy will add a power hitting floater that can bat anywhere. And if need be, under the right circumstances, bowl a few difficult overs through the middle.
"Those sort of inclusions, I don't think they totally change the dynamic of a squad, but they just enhance what you already do really well.
"We've got people that can do that, now we've got blokes that have done it for a long time at international level all over the world."
Bond was one of the quickest international bowlers of his generation, and terrorised batsmen across the globe by consistently hurling 150km/h plus thunderbolts.
He signed on as coach in 2018, but the Thunder missed the finals in his first season in charge.
Last year they finished fifth and only missed the final by one game.
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All the while Bond has been slowly assembling a squad capable of challenging for the club's second BBL title, and unsurprisingly his bowling stocks are brimming with talent.
"I get the sense from the boys that we really believe we can go all the way this year with the depth in our squad," Bond said.
"We've got really strong competition with our spin and seam bowling departments, it's not an easy team to pick.
"Milne's a good player, and a Kiwi coming in that I'm very familiar with so I'm excited to see what he can do.
"We're lucky we've got guys like Brendan Doggett who can bowl quick."
Bond was also expecting another huge season from Sams who averaged almost two wickets per match last season, and who is fresh of an Australian T20 international debut.
"He had a great season last year and he's the leader of our bowling attack now," Bond said.
"It's always nice to see a guy progress pretty quickly and to be in the Australian white ball squad which is a really tough squad to make.
"From my point of view your game's going to develop when you're in and around that team, which he has been for a couple of tours now.
"We're excited."
Sydney Thunder players will wear special socks against the Melbourne Stars on Saturday to raise funds for their charity partner OzHarvest.
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
