Two months later, the ACT Comets' latest recruit had gained the experience of a lifetime, training alongside one of Australia's greatest batsman and most successful captains, Allan Border.

The 22-year-old all-rounder from Perth is one of three new players in the Comets squad for the 2012-13 Futures League season.

Chellew has spent the past four seasons with the Fremantle club in the Perth grade competition, but burst to prominence when he progressed to the second-last week of the Cricket Superstar series.

There he fine-tuned his game under the tutelage of Border and former South Australian skipper Graham Manou, while also rubbing shoulders with champion batsmen Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden.

All of that wouldn't have happened if Chellew didn't have his arm twisted to attend the tryouts.

''I got bullied into it by a mate,'' Chellew said. ''He goes, 'if you do it, I'll do it', then he rang me when I got to the ground and said, 'good luck, I'm still in bed'. I was pretty pissed off with him. He's done me some good so I'll have to thank him.''

Chellew made his way to Canberra on the recommendation of Tuggeranong batsman Vinesh Bennett, who he knew from indoor cricket.

He progressed to the final stages of the reality competition until being forced out with an ankle injury.

''Basically I couldn't bowl or turn when I was running between wickets and it was affecting most of my game,'' he said. ''Cricket Superstar was a very good experience. AB's a nuggety left-hander like I am, so everything he says you hang on to.''

The lack of opportunities to break into a veteran West Australia team, featuring the likes of Marcus North and Adam Voges, was a factor in Chellew moving across the country.

Comets coach Mark Higgs said he had been pleasantly surprised with Chellew after not taking much of an interest in the reality program.

''I knew he was in Cricket Superstar, but I didn't think much of it,'' Higgs said.

''He's got some good skills. It's about learning the game at a high level and playing consistently.

''He's got good shot-making ability, but the ability to score runs after runs needs to be learned and that's an age thing. It's something we can teach through routines.''

The Comets have a reputation as a breeding ground for promising first-class cricketers.

Australian Test off-spinner Nathan Lyon plied his trade at Manuka Oval before making the move to South Australia, while all-rounder Sam Miller has taken a similar path.

Miller will make his Sheffield Shield debut for the Lyon-captained Redbacks against defending champions Queensland at the Gabba today.

The Comets open their Futures League campaign against NSW at Manuka Oval on October 29.