Ben Cutting’s decision to retire from first-class cricket and concentrate on T20 brought with it the usual concerns.
Is this an indication of what modern cricket is becoming, with young(ish) men abandoning the ‘real’ game in order to play the more lucrative T20 tournaments around the world?
It’s a legitimate thought process, but if you ponder this as an individual case, Cutting has made a fair and rational decision for his own future that won’t have a negative impact upon his state and country.
In 51 first-class matches for Queensland, Cutting took 170 wickets at 28.41, and averaged 23.65 with the bat, scoring one century and seven fifties. At the height of his powers, in 2013 and 2014, he played four ODIs for Australia and seven T20 internationals, but was never able to quite hold his place.
He was on the verge of Test selection when he was named in the squad to play against New Zealand in 2010-11, but again, couldn’t quite crack the final XI.
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Over the past two seasons, Queensland has made a conscious decision to move in a different direction with their pace attack. In 2016-17, Cutting played only three Shield matches and seven Matador Cup matches. Despite reasonable returns, he was unable to get a look in for a match in either competition in 2017-18.
Given the Bulls won the Shield this season without his input in any match, it is fair to assume that he has been surpassed.
At 31 years of age, there is every possibility that if he put a solid pre-season behind him, he could again challenge for a place in both Queensland teams next season. In the past, when he would have only had a state contract, this is most likely what he would have done.
But it is the modern age, and given his success as a pinch-hitting batsman capable of massive strikes at the crease, mixed with his straight, full and at-times fast bowling, it is easy to see why T20 franchises would employ him – and for more money than he would be able to earn with a state contract.
This one is a win for one of the good guys. Ben Cutting served his state and country to the best of his ability, and gave Queensland and Australia everything he had on every occasion.
Some may say he didn’t live up to expectations, but perhaps he was just a good state cricketer who was given the chance to represent his country on several occasions, and he didn’t let anyone down.
That he can still continue to play a high-exposure form of cricket without holding up a state contract for an up-and-comer is perhaps the best scenario for both state and player.
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