Ben cutting his ties with Brisbane Heat
BEN Cutting was a foundation member of the Brisbane Heat but won’t finish his career there after disagreeing with the way he was handled last summer.
Cutting has moved to the Sydney Thunder after not seeing “eye-to-eye” on things with Brisbane officials and after nine years at the Heat will add a different shade of green to his vast collection of T20 team uniforms.
He wasn’t happy with not opening the battling in every game last summer, after being told he would.
With other issues also coming to the surface, the 33year-old decided to move to the Thunder and join captain Usman Khawaja, who will also be best man at his upcoming wedding to model and TV presenter Erin Holland.
“There’s probably a couple of reasons [for the move], we probably didn’t see eye-toeye on a few things,” he said.
“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 this year. 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.”
Cutting, one of the Heat’s foundation members, has played in T20 leagues in India, Canada, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Caribbean.
The move to Sydney also brings him back together with coach Shane Bond who he had worked with at the Heat and Mumbai Indians.
“It’s playing alongside good people, most of the guys I’ve come across and played a lot of cricket against or with around the world,” he said.
“Guys like Callum Ferguson, Chris Green, Usman Khawaja, one of my best mates, then not having to face the Daniel Sams slower ball so I’m happy to be on the same team as him.
“(Coach) Shane Bond was a very big factor in my move. I had ‘Bondy’ as a bowling coach at the Heat, alongside Dan Vettori, for quite a few years. He was also my bowling coach in the IPL at the Mumbai Indians.
“So, I know him really well and he knows me. He knows how to get the best out of me.
“He’s 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.”
Cutting leaves Brisbane as the Heat’s greatest wickettaker (66) and second-highest run scorer (1258) behind Chris Lynn (2379), now the sole foundation player left.