On the eve of Big Bash League (BBL) 14, Flinders University and the Adelaide Strikers have expanded their partnership, with Flinders now the Principal Partner of the Adelaide Strikers BBL team.
This builds on Flinders' role as the Official Education Partner of the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) and first standalone Principal Partner of the WBBL team, announced last year.
This exclusive arrangement supports students in the Diploma of Sport Management (Cricket) to develop sports management, marketing and events skills during the BBL and Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) seasons at Adelaide Oval.
Flinders University Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling said the partnership with the Strikers reflects Flinders' commitment to delivering innovative education that packs a punch.
"Just as the Strikers push boundaries on the field, we're redefining education through real-world sports industry experiences," Professor Stirling said.
"This summer, we're proud to expand our support to include the Strikers' BBL team, reinforcing our role as the first standalone Principal Partner of the WBBL. It's a powerful platform to drive education and career opportunities in sports and business.
"Our Diploma of Sports Management (Cricket) blends academic theory with over 100 hours of hands-on experience. Students learn from elite cricketers, sports executives, and behind-the-scenes operations at Adelaide Oval, preparing them for careers in the booming international sports industry."
The new agreement will see Flinders' logo proudly displayed on the front of the Strikers BBL home and away playing shirts and media polo, following on from being featured on the front of the women's shirts in the recently completed WBBL season.
Olivia Turner, a diploma student, is combining her studies in a Bachelor of Laws with a diploma to explore future career options in sports law and player management.
"Sport and cricket play a big role in my life, and I am very excited to be embarking on an educational pathway that integrates both, potentially leading to exciting career opportunities as player manager or in-house counsel.
SACA Chief Executive Officer Charlie Hodgson said it was exciting to have Flinders University extend its support to the BBL program.
"Flinders University's commitment to our WBBL team has delivered outstanding outcomes over the past two seasons, and we are excited to see how their support will now benefit our men's program," Mr Hodgson said.
"We have been delighted by the early successes from the Diploma and have really enjoyed working with Flinders University."
"We hope this will extend to on-field success over the next few weeks as the partnership grows even stronger."
Adelaide Strikers coach Tim Paine said the partnership with Flinders University is based on shared values.
"We are proud to have Flinders University as a partner because they share the same commitment to growth, learning and excellence as we do," Paine said.
"Flinders will strengthen every part of the business and create positive impacts that also extend far beyond the game, which is really important to us.
"We are excited and proud to have their logo on the front of our shirts."
