BBL: Former Brisbane Heat star Ben Cutting thrilled with his move to Sydney Thunder

Ben Cutting is enjoying change of scenery at the Sydney Thunder after spending the best part of a decade in Brisbane with the Heat.

Ben Cutting is enjoying life as a Sydney Thunder player. Picture: Mike Owen/Getty Images

Proud Queenslander Ben Cutting has no qualms about playing BBL cricket for a New South Wales club following his controversial departure from the Brisbane Heat.

Cutting, who turns 34 this month, has found a new lease of life since moving to the Sydney Thunder this season after almost a decade with the Heat.

“It’s been awesome,” the all-rounder said.

“It’s something very different to what I’m used to and I’ve definitely enjoyed the change.

“They’re a great bunch of guys and it’s a `good bloke’ policy here, which makes it a lot easier, particularly when you’re in bubble life 24/7.”

Cutting’s exit from the Heat was less than ideal after falling out with Brisbane captain Chris Lynn.

The pair exchanged words when the Thunder beat the Heat last month, but there seemed less tension when Brisbane gained revenge on Cutting’s team earlier this week at the Gabba.

“It was disappointing. I was hoping there’d more of the same. I enjoy that sort of stuff but they were very friendly,” said Cutting, who added he had no problems playing for a team from NSW.

“That’s the nature of franchise cricket anywhere in the world these days.

“You probably don’t get as much movement in the BBL as you do in other T20 tournaments because guys are still so set in their home states and their home teams.

“My partner and I own property in Sydney where she spends half of her time, so it’s a second home for both of us.”

Hello, Perth! 👋#ThunderNation #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/FDQWKF21kG

— Sydney Thunder (@ThunderBBL) January 6, 2021

Despite the loss to the Heat, Cutting was confident the Thunder – who have won five of their seven matches – could hit back against the Hobart Hurricanes on Thursday night at Optus Stadium.

“If you said at the start of the tournament we’d be five wins and two losses at this stage, we’d have taken that for sure,” he said.

|”You’re going to have those games like we did the other night during the course of a 14-game season. We’re not too worried.

“We were a bit short with the bat the other night and we didn’t bowl that great either.”

Fellow Thunder all-rounder Daniel Sams will miss Thursday night’s match after being concussed against the Heat when struck in the helmet while batting.

Thunder coach Shane Bond said: “We’ve been conservative with all of our players when they’ve been injured, and I think we’ve benefited from that.

“I think you need to be more concerned by head knocks, and we won’t be playing Dan in this match.”