It probably won't happen this summer, but new Sydney Thunder recruit Ben Cutting can't wait for the chance to open his shoulders on the batsman's paradise that is Manuka Oval.
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The hard-hitting all rounder has signed a two-year deal to join the Thunder, although exactly when and where he'll have the chance to debut for his new team is still up in the air as Cricket Australia scramble solve the problem of running a Big Bash competition during a global pandemic.
In a normal season Cutting and the Thunder would play two matches at Manuka Oval during the summer. That is unlikely to happen this season with CA considering a 'bubble' style tournament as a solution to the crisis.
Brisbane, Adelaide and most recently Perth have emerged as possible BBL bubble locations.
Manuka Oval is a perfect venue for Cutting's style. He'll have no trouble clearing its vast boundaries as one of the country's most powerful hitters, and should also extract something from the wicket with his lively seamers.
"I've played a little bit of cricket down there, probably more Shield cricket than I have one-day cricket - I remember it being super hot, super dry and very flat with the ball," Cutting said.
"I've seen some serious run chases there over the years, particularly because that dew can come in sometimes as well. I'm looking forward to playing down there I think every game I've played there has been alongside Usman Khawaja so a bit of local knowledge there as well."
Khawaja's presence at the Thunder was one of the major reasons why Cutting left the Heat for a new opportunity.
The pair are best mates, and Khawaja will be best man at Cutting's wedding which he has been forced to postpone three times.
And Cutting has backed Khawaja to rediscover his best cricket, after being dropped midway through Australia's successful Ashes campaign in England last year.
"He's a different Usman at the moment, he's had a little one, he's very content and when guys are content, particularly as they enter into their 30s they become even better cricketers than they have been in the past," Cutting said.
"I'm predicting personally a big year from him in the BBL, but probably even a bigger year from a Shield cricket perspective. It wouldn't surprise me if he was back in the Test lineup in the next 12 months.
"Getting to play alongside one of your best mates, that's one of the highlights of your career. Good people breeds good culture and good culture breeds success."
Cutting will also reunite with former New Zealand quick Shane Bond, who worked as bowling coach at the Heat before joining the Thunder as head coach in 2018.
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"We're very similar characters the way we operate, we're both very diligent, we both like to work hard, we've both had our fair share of injuries as well so we know what it takes to bounce back from that," Cutting said.
"He was our bowling coach at the Heat for quite a number of years when we did quite well and at Mumbai Indians the last couple of years as well. He keeps it really simple, he works hard and we work really well together.
"Most of the guys in the team I've come across, played a lot of cricket against or with around the world. Guys like Callum Ferguson, we've both been in the system together for a long time, Chris Green.
"Then not having to face the Daniel Sams slower ball - I'm happy to be on the same team as him."
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
