It's a new year, there's a new coach and a new chief executive, but there's a familiar face back with the ACT Comets.
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Former skipper Jono Dean wants to use his experience to help mentor the Comets' youngsters in the Futures League while also giving himself vital preparation for the Big Bash League with the Adelaide Strikers.
Dean and his brother Blake were the two veterans in an otherwise youthful Comets squad for three trial games against the University of NSW in Sydney.
Saturday's 50-over game and the two, Twenty20 matches on Sunday were the first hit-outs for the Comets under new director of coaching, Aiden Blizzard.
The Dean brothers were recalled after both didn't feature for the Comets in the Futures League last season in the first year when it was a combined ACT/NSW country team.
Jono Dean was dropped after scoring 431 runs at an average of 28.73 over the past two seasons, but he's excited to be working with Blizzard.
"Blizz has only just come in so he's getting to know everyone and getting his head around the program and instil his ideas and philosophies on cricket within the group," Dean said.
"In terms of my role, we'll see how it pans out.
"I've got the Big Bash later in the year and I'll prepare for that and hopefully I get the opportunity to play some four-day cricket to help with my preparation.
"I just want to be a part of what Blizz and what Cricket ACT are trying to create so hopefully I can play a leadership role and play some good cricket along the way."
The Comets have two Futures League games in November before Dean goes to Adelaide in early December to link up with the Strikers.
Blake Dean is back in the Comets' set-up after a superb club season with Weston Creek Molonglo, winning the DB Robin Medal as the best and fairest in the Cricket ACT first-grade competition.
"I think he's starting to get a bit of confidence back and starting to back his ability again, which he has in the past," Jono Dean said.
"He's dealt with some things over the last year or so.
"Hopefully that can translate into some quality cricket at a higher level, which we all know he's capable of."
The Comets recorded a clean sweep of their three trial games against UNSW.
