Sydney Thunder back to the future to replace Jacques Kallis .

The Sydney Thunder's KFC Big Bash League title defence could be bolstered by the return of two international superstars this summer. While the reigning BBL champions are tight-lipped on who exactly will fill their two overseas slots this summer, Thunder general manager Nick Cummins confirmed on social media this week that both spots had been filled for BBL|06. West Indies star Andre Russell's success in his debut season in lime green makes him a 'must sign', and the Thunder will have been desperate to beat off rival BBL clubs to ensure his return, while England one-day captain Eoin Morgan also looms as a prime target for the Thunder. Russell – whose seemingly golden touch as a Twenty20 gun for hire has seen him involved in title wins in domestic T20 tournaments in Bangladesh and Pakistan as well as the Windies' World T20 triumph – finished the season as the top-ranked allrounder in the official BBL rankings, snaring 16 wickets and managing the highest strike rate (186.86) of any batsman who played more than two innings. Last month, Cummins said the club would look for a player with a lot of Indian Premier League experience to fill the gaps left by retired skipper Mike Hussey and South Africa legend Jacques Kallis, who appears to have made the transition to life as a coach after a stint as Kolkata mentor in the IPL. With former Australia allrounder Shane Watson already on their list, the Thunder's top priority is strengthening their batting line-up – particularly given Usman Khawaja will likely be engaged with international duties for much of the summer – while leadership experience is another priority. Morgan, who played four matches for the Thunder in BBL|04, ticks all those boxes.

source: http://www.cricket.com.au