Will Spark has always admired Usman Khawaja’s elegant batting and calm demeanour at the crease.
So when Masters of Business Administration student Khawaja spoke at Bond University’s Open Day last year, Spark was front row in the audience.
But rather than tips on game play and tactics, it was hearing his idol speak about life outside of sport that provided a source of inspiration.
“I saw Uzzie speak at the Bond’s Open Day when I had just left school,” Spark said.
“He’s such a smart guy, very passionate about everything he does, and has obviously been very successful with his cricket but also his foundation.
“It made me think about my cricket as an avenue for a career working in sport.”
Shortly after, Spark enrolled in Bond’s Bachelor of Sports Management, and is due to graduate at the end of this year.
In the last twelve months, he has completed internships with the World Surf League, Supercars and Bond’s Rugby Club.
The experiences have provided the perfect foundation for Sparks’ most recent challenge.
This week, he is captaining and managing the Bull Sharks and University of Southern Queensland’s composite squad for the T20 Cricket UniSport Nationals on the Sunshine Coast.
The team is being mentored by South African test cricketer Corbin Bosch.
“Corbin has told us to keep our intensity and energy high, and to have fun with it,” Spark said.
“He said the chances in the field and with the bat are always going to come so we can’t let ourselves dwell on little moments.
“We need to keep thinking about the next ball.”
A lower order batsman, Spark is competing in the tournament for a second year, and knows the value of the experience extends beyond the cricket field.
“It’s such a good group to be around for a whole week and you make friendships through the team that last through your whole journey at university,” Spark said.
“Setting the team up is also great for my career as it gives me the industry experience that I need.”
The increasing popularity of the tournament is an indication of the strength of the wider cricketing movement in Australia.
“They had considerably more universities apply to play this year so there’s now three pools instead of two,” Spark said.
“Cricket is in a really strong spot at the moment…Australia won the last World Cup, they just won the Women’s World Cup, and our national and state teams are playing well.
“Even locally, the Gold Coast competition seems to be getting stronger every year, and we’re just trying to take a piece of that.”
Spark says cricket has taught him to play every ball on its merits.
“In the T20 format, the game can change in the space of ten minutes and it’s the same in the sports management industry,” he said.
“Things are going to get thrown at you and you've got to deal with them in the best way you can…it teaches you how to be resilient.”
Though Spark’s journey at Bond has been a period of development and growth on and off the pitch, his admiration for a fellow student has remained constant.
“Uzzie’s is a legend – he always stays fighting on the cricket pitch but also stands up for what he believes in,” Spark said.
“It’s pretty cool to know he goes to my uni.”