Star Black Caps one-day player Grant Elliott was celebrating another achievement yesterday, while his national cricket team-mates were playing a test match at Dunedin's University Oval.
His broken arm is keeping him off the sports field, but it did mean he could graduate from Otago Polytechnic at a ceremony at the Dunedin Town Hall.
Elliott graduated with a bachelor of applied management, through Capable NZ.
"It's pretty satisfying,'' he said in an interview.
He said his Otago Polytechnic studies had "given me the confidence to enjoy my cricket more as well''.
"I can go out there and enjoy the sport for what it is, and play it with a smile on my face instead of dreading what might happen after my sporting career is over.''
Gaining his polytechnic degree helped him realise he had skills that were "transferable for when I do make the transition from sport''.
And his study had shown him "that I can achieve and progress in any job I choose''.
Everyone in sport ultimately had "a shelf life'', Elliott said.
And sports stars would be wise to consider in advance what they would do in the next phase of their life, rather than suddenly being confronted with having to adapt to a somewhat isolated new existence outside the supportive team culture they had become used to.
He encouraged other top sportspeople to consider undertaking study through Otago Polytechnic, and had found "style of reflective learning'' to be a "great way'' to study.
Elliott had always wanted to get a degree and had started doing a bachelor of commerce when he was 19, but professional cricket took over.
When he eventually retired from sport, a key interest would be "definitely business''.
He praised the Black Caps leadership, including captain Brendon McCullum and national cricket coach Mike Hesson, saying leadership also played an important role in tertiary study and in business.
He was also asked about when he smashed a six in the final over early this year to knock South Africa out of the Cricket World Cup.
"It was obviously a special moment for me personally.''
But he emphasised team performance - "we just had a great team in that World Cup''.
"It was shown in the way the country jumped on board.''
South African-born Elliott came to New Zealand for a lifestyle change, and to pursue his dream to be an international cricketer.
He now plays for the Wellington Firebirds and the Black Caps.
Capable NZ is an Otago Polytechnic initiative that provides work-based learning for mature students in a wide range of fields, including sport.
It recognises prior learning and experience, enabling busy people to gain tertiary qualifications without having to spend years back in the classroom.
Capable NZ programme leader and facilitator Glenys Ker said Elliott had shown "focus, considered thought, dedication and determination'' in his studies.
