Ben Cutting hoping to build on IPL final success to seal Australian comeback

Australian all-rounder Ben Cutting is hopeful that he can emulate his outstanding showing in the IPL final in the upcoming Matador Cup and the Big Bash League tournaments as he hopes on sealing a comeback to the Australian limiter-overs sides.

Cutting clinched the Man-of-the-Match award after scoring a 15-ball 39 as well as picking up two wickets, including the prized one of Chris Gayle, as his side Sunrisers Hyderabad, led by David Warner, who will be leading Australia in the remaining three ODIs as well as the two-match T20 series against Sri Lanka with regular skipper Steven Smith withdrawn by Cricket Australia citing a packed schedule.

According to Cutting, the confidence that the IPL final has given him has been huge considering how he was able to keep the star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore batting line-up in check. The 29-year-old was especially thrilled at the chance to ball against RCB skipper Virat Kohli, arguably the world’s best batsman at the moment.

"It's the belief that I got out of it," Cutting told cricket.com.au about what he gained from the IPL final. "Twenty20 is a tough game for a bowler. "Nobody goes into stadiums to watch you take wickets, they go there to watch you get hit for six. You've really got to keep your emotions in check, not just playing against him (Kohli) but playing against them in a final with small boundaries and a fast wicket.

“And it's not just him, you've got AB de Villiers at the other end followed by Shane Watson and there's Chris Gayle as well. You're chasing your tail for 20 overs pretty much.”

While he no doubt contributed with the ball, it was his cameo with the bat that eventually proved crucial as Hyderabad edged out RCB to seal a thrilling victory by eight runs. However, Cutting sees himself more as a bowler and is hoping to improve his skills to win a spot in the Australian ODI and T20 side.

"I've always been happy with how I've been able to bat at the end (of an innings) for teams like the Heat - being able to slog a few sixes and finish off the innings. But (the IPL final) was a really good confidence boost with the ball. Bowling in such good batting conditions on that big stage, it was a relief for me, I guess," Cutting said.

"I didn't play a hell of a lot of Shield cricket last year so it's probably trying to get back into that Shield team and play a little bit more. But ultimately it's very much a white-ball focus for myself, Twenty20s and one-dayers. And I still want to get back into that Australian team, as everybody does," he added.

Cutting has received words of high praise from former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum, who got first-hand experience of Cutting's abilities during his stint with Brisbane Heat in the fifth edition of the BBL last summer.

"He had a little bit of a lull but I think what we’ve seen in the last little while is that he’s starting to come back," McCullum told cricket.com.au earlier this year of Cutting. "He’ll be a huge player; batting in that middle-order, bowling, using his height and his ability to change the pace but also every now and then, on that Gabba wicket, being able to ‘sniff’ the batter as well.

“There’s not a whole lot of those commodities: guys who can whack it out of the park, field brilliantly and bowl touching 140 kph.”