Cutting departs after nine seasons at the Heat

The overhaul of the Brisbane Heat’s list after three consecutive seasons without a finals appearance has continued, with foundation player Ben Cutting officially joining the Sydney Thunder despite having a year left to run on his contract.

Cutting, the Heat’s most capped player and their all-time leading wicket-taker, follows Matt Renshaw (Adelaide Strikers) out the door as Darren Lehmann’s side looks to break an unwanted run of just one finals showing in the past seven seasons.

Having held hopes of finishing his career as a one-club player, Cutting will instead join his close friend Usman Khawaja at the Thunder and he’ll also link up with Kiwi coach Shane Bond, who he’s worked with at the Heat and Mumbai in the IPL.

The 33-year-old’s departure had been mooted for much of the winter and he’s revealed that a conversation in February with Lehmann and general manager Andrew McShea (who’s since left the Heat) made it clear that the club was looking to reshape its list.

It’s been reported that paceman James Pattinson is also set to depart, possibly to the Melbourne Renegades, and Cutting expects several more big names to leave in the coming weeks.

“I know I’m not the only one in this boat and it’s going to be a very interesting couple of weeks now the embargo period has lifted,” Cutting told cricket.com.au having confirmed a two-year deal with the Thunder.

“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.

“They were difficult discussions (with Lehmann and McShea). I’d always hoped that I’d be a one-club player and I’d get to finish my career with the Heat.

“But as one door closes, another probably even better door opens because I get to play with some of my best mates and guys I really enjoy playing alongside.

“I’m pretty excited (to play the Heat), I won’t lie. I love the (Heat) players and I’m really going to miss those guys.

“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.”

Cutting, a two-time IPL champion and player of the match in the 2016 decider, says he holds no ill feeling towards the Heat and denied that he’ll have a point to prove when he plays them in the green of the Thunder this season.

“I’d like to think that my stats for the Heat over the years speak for themselves,” he said.

“I don’t feel like I’ll have anything to prove when I come up against the Heat. In saying that, I’d love to rock and roll them.

“They’ve had a lean couple of years with wins, particularly at the Gabba, and hopefully we can continue that at the Thunder.”

The departure of Cutting, who was part of the Heat side that won the BBL title in 2012, means skipper Chris Lynn is the only remaining member of the Heat’s foundation squad.

Brisbane have added Renegades duo Tom Cooper and Jack Wildermuth to their list in recent weeks, while they’ve also held discussions with AB de Villiers about a return this season. However, the fact the South African’s wife is due to give birth towards the end of the year plus the quarantine complications for overseas players this summer are obstacles the Heat will need to overcome to get that deal done.

While working closely with Bond and Khawaja was the major selling point of a move to the Thunder, the chance to spend more time in Sydney where Cutting’s fiancé Erin Holland – part of Channel Seven’s cricket coverage – is based for much of the year was also a factor.

And having admired the club from afar, Cutting says he’s excited about starting a new chapter as he looks to extend his career as a T20 gun for hire well into his late 30s.

“Good people always breed a good culture and a good culture is what brings you success,” he said.

“That starts with the people that are involved to begin with and I think that’s the Thunder to a tee.

“I’d like to play for another four or five years. I’d like to think I’m pretty diligent with my training and the way I work behind the scenes.

“The body still feels great … I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.”

Bond said adding Cutting’s power hitting to his side’s middle order will be crucial as they look to improve on their third-placed finish last season.

“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 said.

“He’s the best in the competition at doing that, I think. To have him across to us to fill that role is massive.

“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.”