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Allrounder Ben Cutting is thrilled to link up with a host of familiar faces at the Sydney Thunder, with one of them his future best man.
Sydney Thunder recruit Ben Cutting says he decided to leave the Brisbane Heat after not seeing "eye to eye" on a few things.
Cutting - a foundation member of the Heat - holds the record for most games for them (82), most wickets (66) and the second-most runs (1258) behind only Chris Lynn.
His 50 from 17 balls against the Melbourne Stars in BBL 08 was the second fastest half-century in the competition's history.
The 33-year-old Cutting thought he would open the batting for the Heat for the bulk of last season, but he spent the majority of the campaign batting well down the order.
"There's probably a couple of reasons (for leaving)," Cutting told reporters on Thursday.
"We probably didn't see eye to eye on a few things.
"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 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 is excited to link up with a few familiar faces at the Thunder, with coach Shane Bond one of them.
"I know most of the Thunder guys really well," Cutting said.
"Obviously Brendan Doggett is a Queenslander, I've played a lot of cricket with and against Callum Ferguson over the last 10-15 years, I know Usman Khawaja really well - he's going to be my best man for my wedding.
"And I know Chris Green from spending time with at tournaments across the world."
"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 - and my game - really well."
Cutting's move to the Thunder came about through a negotiated trade outcome between the teams.
