Jono Dean's Big Bash journey was a whirlwind from the moment he smashed his way to a contract via the Prime Minister's XI and then finished his time in Adelaide with a championship.
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But the big-hitting batsmen hasn't given up on one last crack at the Twenty20 tournament this season if he can secure a contract with another team in the coming weeks.
Dean has finished his five-season stint at the Adelaide Strikers, playing 22 matches, hitting some monster sixes at grounds around Australia and tasting grand final success earlier this year.
The 34-year-old revealed he spent most of his time in Adelaide carrying a niggling shoulder injury before finally getting surgery this year to fix the problem.
It was all a part of a rollercoaster ride, which started with a powerful 51 off just 40 balls against the West Indies in the Prime Minister's XI game at Manuka Oval to put him on the Big Bash radar.
"I'm pretty proud of it - being a club cricketer from Canberra. From the PM's XI to winning this year, it was an incredible ride," Dean said.
"Darren Berry gave me a chance to start and I must have done something right, but I had to work pretty hard for it. It was one of the hardest things I've done ... playing with and against that sort of talent was confronting at first.
"But I enjoyed the challenge and I'm really thankful to the Strikers for giving me the chance to do my best and what a way to finish. I'll miss the boys and the people the most."
Dean hit 24 sixes in his 22 matches and had a highest score of 54 not out. He played in the grand final win against the Hobart Hurricanes, but wasn't required to bat.
He rubbed shoulders with teammates Peter Siddle and Brad Hodge, and was coached by Berry and former Australian fast-bowler Jason Gillespie.
But the journey isn't over. Dean could be a valuable addition to any of the Big Bash squads and will use one-day games with Weston Creek and matches for the ACT Comets to launch a last-minute effort for another season.
"We'll just wait and see what happens. I had a great run with the Strikers, but now they're looking at a younger path. I won't dwell on it," Dean said.
"I'd love to continue to play in the Big Bash. I'm not getting any younger, but if the opportunity came up in the next couple of weeks I'd definitely be ready.
"But if it finishes on the note it has, I'm pretty happy. It's not every day you get to go out with a premiership."
Former Canberra bowler Nick Winter is still on the Strikers' roster for this year, while Tom Rogers will play for the Hurricanes.
