When the house full sign goes up and the fireworks erupt around Sydney for the start of the Big Bash League, Aiden Blizzard will take a moment to pinch himself.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
These big moments are ones to savour.
Blizzard has been included in the Sydney Thunder's 13-man squad to face the Sydney Sixers in the BBL season opener at the Sydney Showground on Tuesday night.
He is one of three Thunder players alongside skipper Shane Watson and Ben Rohrer no longer playing regular domestic cricket.
It makes an occasion like the highly-anticipated Sydney derby much more signicant as Blizzard enters the final season of his two-year deal.
"I've had a great opportunity lately just to reflect on all the significant opportunities I've had across my career and it makes it probably a lot more special," Blizzard said.
"You take it for granted when you're doing it regularly so I'm still really pinching myself that I've still got an opportunity play in this competition and still get out there and play in front of packed crowds.
"It's such a cool thing that most kids definitely want to do when they're growing up.
"It's as good as any competition in the world. For entertainment for the fans, it's definitely rivalling the [Indian Premier League] if not leading.
"It's a credit to Cricket Australia and all the franchises that have come together to put the league together.
"It's changed Australian cricket that's for sure and it's in a really healthy position moving forward for the next generations coming through."
The 33-year-old has five domestic Twenty20 titles under his belt - the most recent being with the Thunder as they capped off the ultimate rags to riches story in the 2015-16 season.
But Blizzard battled to win a regular spot in the Thunder line-up last season, playing just one game as his side came crashing back to earth in their title defence.
This time the Cricket ACT general manager of high performance is primed to make an impression with a contract extension on the line, and he's got his family to thank for it.
He has been joined in Sydney by his wife Jess and one-year-old son Eden, who relocate for the summer as Blizzard rejoins domestic cricket's greatest "roadshow".
"I'm feeling really good personally. It's been a challenge to mentally and physically get myself into a good position with balancing workloads, family and study," Blizzard said.
"It's been really good and I'm really looking forward to getting out there tomorrow night.
"I've still got to sub in some hours each day to the computer screen but it's definitely nice to be back out there hitting some balls and being around the boys."
A small amount of tickets remain for Blizzard's homecoming to Manuka Oval in the Thunder's clash against the Melbourne Renegades on January 24 with a second allocation of tickets released.
CANBERRA'S BIG BASH LEAGUE CONNECTION
Aiden Blizzard - Sydney Thunder
Jason Behrendorff - Perth Scorchers
Nathan Lyon - Sydney Sixers
Jono Dean - Adelaide Strikers
Nick Winter - Adelaide Strikers
Alex Ross - Brisbane Heat
Jason Floros - Brisbane Heat
Tom Rogers - Hobart Hurricanes
BIG BASH LEAGUE
Tuesday: Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers at Sydney Showground, 7.45pm.
