Cutting also revealed reason behind his move.
Australia’s big-hitting all-rounder Ben Cutting has ended his 9-year association with the Brisbane Heat and moved to the Sydney Thunder ahead of the upcoming 10th edition of the KFC Big Bash League (BBL 10).
The Sydney Thunder traded Cutting from the Brisbane Heat on a two-year deal to add an extra dimension to his team for this summer’s BBL 2020-2021 in Australia.
It is being said that the differences of opinion on various issues with the Brisbane Heat officials forced the 33-year-old all-rounder to move to Thunder. Cutting was told he would open the batting every game last season but didn’t open.
Cutting has been a crowd favorite given his wholehearted performances for Brisbane Heat over the years. He is the Heat's highest wicket-taker with 63 scalps and its second-highest run-scorer with 1,199 runs at a formidable strike-rate of 145.50.
Ben is one of the best star all-rounders in the shorter format of the having played in T20 leagues in India, Canada, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Caribbean.
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Thunder's head coach Shane Bond said of the latest recruitment of Cutting: “We were looking to bring in some experience. If you want to be there at the business end you need those experienced players, and we were also looking for players that can bring a unique skill set.”
He added, “There aren't too many players in the Big Bash who can come in at six and strike the ball and score as fast as Ben can. He's the best in the competition at doing that, I think. To have him come across to us to fill that role is massive. His bowling on our wicket at Sydney Showground Stadium and his fielding is a bonus. He's just a pro. He always looks after himself and is always prepared. We've got a really strong relationship and I think he'll fit in brilliantly at our club. He's going to fill a vital role for us.”
Meanwhile, Cutting said of his new deal with Thunder: “I'm excited to join the Thunder because of the culture (they have). Having come up against them, I know what they're all about and that excites me. Good people always breed a good culture and a good culture is what brings you success.”
He further said: “The people. A great cricket team is always made even better by the people that are part of it. I've always found in my experience that playing with good people breeds good culture and that breeds success... that's one of the things that really attracted me to the Sydney Thunder.”
While insisting Bond was a “very big factor” in his move, the all-rounder said: “Shane Bond was a very big factor in my move. I know him really well and he knows me - and my game - really well. He knows how to get the best out of me. He's very diligent, which is what I like, very professional and very diligent but he's someone who has a lot of fun in coaching as well which is what the Big Bash is all about.”
On his move from Heat to Thunder, the all-rounder said: “I wasn't asked to leave; I had another year left so I had the option to stay on if I wanted to. But it's been a tough couple of years, particularly the most recent season, so I just think it was time that we parted ways. There‘s probably a couple of reasons [for the move], we probably didn’t see eye to eye on a few things.”
He signed off by saying, “It’s a tough one to comment on because there’s been a lot of loyalty both ways for a number of years, but from my end, I was told I was opening the batting every single game - that was one of the things among a few others - I understand where they are coming from as well, it’s been a couple of lean years so they are looking to make a few changes and I’m sure I’m not the only one.”
Noteworthy, Sydney Thunder will kick start its BBL 10 campaign against the Melbourne Stars at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 5th December before playing its first home game of the season at Sydney Showground Stadium against Perth Scorchers on 8th December 2020.
(With cricket.com.au Inputs)