ONE chance gone.

Bathurst cricketer Jono Dean may have felt, justifiably, like he was entitled to an early crack at nailing down a spot with the Adelaide Strikers for the Big Bash League in 2014-15.

But after their season opening effort on Thursday night he might find it a bit harder than he thought to break into the starting 11, let alone secure a spot.

The Strikers were blistering in their opening clash against the Melbourne Stars, taking a reasonably testing target and making it look miniscule during an eight-wicket win.

Dean does his best work at the top of the order but already it looks as though he’ll have to turn his attention to a different role in the batting line-up thanks to Tim Ludeman’s cavalier performance.

Chasing 149 for victory, Ludeman was simply unstoppable as he registered the quickest half-century in the brief history of the competition, his 50 coming off just 18 balls.

He would finish with 92 off 44 as the Adelaide Oval was treated to a spectacular display of batting pyrotechnics.

The hosts reached their target with 45 balls still up their sleeve.

Ludeman and new recruit Craig Simmons, himself trying to ensure he becomes an indispensable part of the side, made a thunderous start.

They put on 83 in 5.3 overs before Simmons, who held the previous record for the competition’s fastest 50, was dismissed for 30 off 15, though he looked pedestrian compared to his partner.

None of the Stars bowlers escaped punishment, left-arm spinner Clive Rose copping particularly severe treatment as he was dispatched for 36 from his two overs.

With victory all but assured after the opening stand, things calmed down a little bit after Simmons departed, Travis Head came to the crease, and though there wasn’t a lot left to do, he performed reasonably with 22 off 15.

The upshot of it all is that Ludeman and Simmons look to have a mortgage on the opening spots, and as one of the most prolific scorers in the format’s history Brad Hodge should be secure at number four.

Head shapes as Dean’s major rival for a regular spot, and though his innings on Wednesday wasn’t especially eye-catching, he didn’t do anything to warrant being left out for their next match against the Perth Scorchers on Monday.

Earlier in the match the Stars looked headed for a total closer to 170 or 180 as English pair Luke Wright and Kevin Pietersen, the Stars’ biggest off-season recruit, both showed signs of their best form.

Wright hit seven fours in his 45, while Pietersen cleared the boundary four times on his way to a 46-ball 66, but unfortunately for their team they were the only two who reached double-figures in their 7-148.

Adam Zampa made a big impact with the ball for Adelaide with 1-21 from four overs.