First there was Marsh, with who the English-born West Australian compiled a 371-run seventh-wicket partnership for Australia A in 2014, breaking an 80-year national first-class record which still stands today.

Then there was an incident involving former state and Big Bash teammate Mitchell Johnson in early 2017 that almost brought a premature end to the former wicketkeeper's cricketing journey.

Keeping to Johnson in the BBL 06 final, Whiteman caught a typically fiery delivery from the fearsome left-armer and felt something tweak in his finger.

"The ball just flicked my index finger on the way in, I didn't really think much of it at the time," Whiteman said.

"Playing in front of the crowd, your adrenaline's up and then I got off and chucked the pads on, went to hold my cricket bat and couldn't hold it.

"It ended up being a bit of a shit show for a couple of years. I'm just glad to be playing cricket because for a few months there I was staring down the barrel of finishing up and career done.

"I don't touch the gloves much these days unless I really have to."

Multiple surgeries followed the initial injury, but Whiteman required a trip across Australia to end his nightmare.

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"It was just a bad break in the joint which is a bit tricky, it started with one surgery and didn't really recover so the same surgeon had another crack, same story," Whiteman said.

"We went over to Sydney and saw the guy who did the surgery to fix Tim Paine's finger as well, and he was brilliant.

"Finger injuries are frustrating because you can run, you can do weights, you can do everything except catch a cricket ball. It's a bit of a frustrating one and it was a frustrating couple of years, it was probably the first time I missed any cricket as well.

"I felt like I was playing pretty good cricket at the time."

Whiteman still batted in that Big Bash final, and scored a quickfire 41 to set the Scorchers up for a nine-wicket win.

He was well entrenched in WA's Sheffield Shield setup, and clearly on the national radar after that monstrous stand with Marsh, during which Whiteman scored 174.

"That was my first Australia A game and to be honest I was pretty stoked just to be there," Whiteman said.

"I was batting eight. And we were in a bit of shit and Mitch and I got stuck in.

"It was fun batting with Mitch obviously he's one of my best mates. To be able to put on close to 400 was pretty special, and more special looking back on it now.

"It's been a bit of a rollercoaster since then."

Whiteman was a part of the Scorchers set up for most of the past decade, but was let go before this season.

A timely 176 not out for WA in a Shield match in Tasmania led to the Thunder asking about his availability this summer, and he was quickly snapped up to help cover for Ashes-tied Usman Khawaja, and injured young gun Ollie Davies.

It's thrown the 29-year-old a Big Bash lifeline, while giving the Thunder another reliable option at the top of the order.

A quickfire 11 on Monday night showed glimpses of his promise at Manuka Oval, and he is expected to play against the Melbourne Stars on Friday night at the MCG.

"It's a good feeling in the group, it's early doors but the other night was very impressive," Whiteman said.

"It's always nice winning your first game, everyone relaxes a bit, you don't start overthinking stuff. We've got a really good balance of a squad, some dangerous players down the order and a really good bowling attack."

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