Pace bowler Chris Tremain has returned to the Sydney Thunder on a three-year deal after winning a title last season with the Melbourne Renegades.

Tremain previously played three seasons with the Thunder between 2012 and 2015 before moving to the Renegades.

He only played six matches last season for the Renegades but was part of the winning final against the Melbourne Stars. Tremain believes he returns to the Thunder a much more mature cricketer.

"I think I've changed quite a bit," Tremain said. "I've played a lot more cricket, experienced a lot more. I've had a lot more success, and I've failed a lot more. I've had a career, basically.

"When I was at the Thunder last time, I was really young. I was still learning how to do things - not even cricket. Everything was really raw and full of youth."

Tremain will join South Africa bowling allrounder Chris Morris as the Thunder's two senior bowlers in a relatively inexperienced attack.

"We just wanted a good, serious, hardened pro and I think he showed his value for the Renegades last season, opening the bowling through the back-end of the season," Thunder coach Shane Bond said.

"He's just a solid performer day-in, day-out. He knows what he's doing, he's durable and he's a great guy around the team. He just brings that experience that we were missing a little bit last season."