Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
Get to know 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Baxter Holt
What are you studying and where?
Bachelor of Counselling at the Australian College of Applied Psychology.
It’s mainly online but they’ve got a campus in the city, in Sydney, which is handy.
How long is the degree?
3 years full-time.
When did you start?
June 2020.
How long until you finish the degree?
It will probably take me 5 ½ – 6 years to get it done.
Why did you choose Counselling?
I was doing sport and exercise management and I wasn’t really learning anything. I sort of knew everything that was already in it because that’s what we do on a day-to-day basis as a cricketer.
I changed to Counselling because I’ve always enjoyed being able to help others and I’ve loved it.
What do you enjoy most about it?
It’s really interesting to see how much the brain is actually able to do and how much it’s able to change your perspective on everything really.
It’s incredible how a conversation can help people, whether that’s just a couple of minutes or a half an hour chat over a coffee.
To actually be able to learn something while doing is of huge benefit.
Hardest subject you have done in your degree so far?
It’s mainly just recognising how relevant it is in today’s society and how many people are struggling with mental health issues.
Hardest part about balancing cricket and study?
Just finding the motivation and time to do it.
The thing about professional sport is you’re always thinking about sport and to be able to switch off from it for a bit and actually focus on something else for an hour or two, isn’t all that easy.
How does study help your cricket?
To have a balance away from cricket, to actually switch off from what we spend so much time in is a blessing really.
It’s something we should all do more of, especially now in the hub, you get really caught up in cricket, cricket and a bit more cricket.
I’ve done a little bit of study whilst in the hub, read a few books and watched a bit of TV to just even everything out.
To have something else there is really beneficial not only for us as people but also our mental space.
Name of Author: Sydney Thunder
The Sydney Thunder is an Australian professional cricket team competing in the Big Bash League (BBL). Based at Sydney Showground Stadium, the Thunder, along with the Sydney Sixers, succeeded the New South Wales Blues from the defunct KFC Twenty20 Big Bash.
