Watson wants to bat with idol Kallis

Newly acquired Sydney Thunder star Shane Watson says it would be a dream come to true to bat with his idol and new teammate Jacques Kallis.

Having retired from Test cricket after the Ashes tour Watson has a chance to play some Big Bash League T20 matches, though he remains keen to represent Australia in the two shorter forms of the game.

Watson has played many internationals against 40-year-old South African star Kallis, who represented the Thunder in last season's BBL, when Watson was playing for the Sydney Sixers.

"It's been very exciting knowing I was going to be in Jacques' team finally, after admiring him from afar, idolising him really, since I was a young kid," Watson said.

"To be able to play with Jacques is certainly a dream come true.

"I'm looking forward to hopefully being able to get a chance to bat with him, that would be very cool."

Also on Thunder's roster as they try to improve on their appalling Big Bash record is big-hitting West Indies allrounder Andre Russell, who Watson consider's to be one of the best young talents in the game.

"For me he's the most exciting young allrounder in the world, especially in the shorter formats, because that's all he's playing at the moment," Watson said.

Watson is also confident he will be able to deliver the goods with the ball in the competition despite not turning his arm over for NSW during the domestic one-day competition.

"I'm ready to bowl, I've been building up my bowling over the last three and a bit weeks," Watson said.

"I had a couple of months of not bowling, just trying to freshen up and regenerate my body as well in the lead up to the Big Bash."

The 34-year-old allrounder reiterated his desire to continue the international career he started almost 14 years ago.

"My main goal, no question, is to be able to play the shorter formats for Australia," Watson said.

"But in the end it's totally out my control, it's more so just performing well when I get a chance for the Thunder."