Howzat?! Cricketer, Shane Bond, Becomes MBA Graduate: MBA News

Shane Bond, one of the most acclaimed fast bowlers in the history of New Zealand cricket, has added another feather to the Black Cap (the New Zealand team’s nickname) he used to wear with pride, by becoming an MBA graduate.

Earlier today, he attended his graduation ceremony at Massey University, based in his country’s capital city of Wellington.

Bond enrolled on the Massey’s MBA program, which received AMBA accreditation in 2009, after retiring from playing in 2010. However, he has stayed on as New Zealand’s bowling coach and was pleased to be able to take advantage of the program’s flexible structure when travelling with the national team – albeit, taking his papers and textbooks with him.

“I wanted a degree that would provide me with broad knowledge and I’m already finding the management and leadership skills useful in my cricket job. The MBA has also challenged me to think strategically and look at the big picture”, Shane Bond said in a press release for Massey University.

Massey University MBA to ‘open up more doors’ for Bond

Embarking on the journey to becoming an MBA graduate with Massey University was something Bond wanted to do to be fully prepared for the next chapter in his life.

“I love cricket but I have three young kids at home and I’ll eventually look for something that involves less travel. The MBA should open up more doors for me away from the game. It’s given me more credibility and confidence in my abilities – and it shows there’s more to me than just a name“, he said.

Bond is considering using his MBA graduate skills to enter the world of cricket governance, so he doesn’t appear ready to leave the game completely behind him just yet. Indeed, this was the subject of his MBA research project.

“I can see myself eventually getting involved with cricket at the board level and I now have an appreciation of the different governance structures and models”, he confirmed.

Shane Bond’s reputation as New Zealand’s most talented fast bowler since Sir Richard Hadlee remained intact throughout a career hampered by injury woes. Speaking at the time of his retirement he felt that he had ‘statistically overachieved’ given his misfortune with injuries.

Acknowledging the benefits of an MBA for a life after professional sport is something that Canadian rugby player, Tyler Hotson, agrees with. While playing for London Scottish FC, Hotson is studying for a distance online MBA with Edinburgh Business School. He told The Globe and Mail that his national team coach was fully supportive. “He knows we get paid next to nothing playing for Canada so he understands that you have to take care of life after rugby because it’s a very short career”, Hotson said.

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