Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
Get to know 31-year-old leg-spinner Jono Cook who debuted for Thunder at 29
What do you do for work?
I am an Environmental Planner.
What does your work involve?
I’ve been working within the telecommunications industry. I was originally working at Telstra then moved onto the NBN.
It looked at all the new infrastructure that is being built, associated with the NBN, and just making sure that all the regulations and legislation are being followed.
What did you study at University?
I did an undergraduate double-major of Human Geography and Geology.
I then did my Honours which was a thesis on Climate Change and Water Use.
My undergraduate degree took 4 years, I still didn’t know what I wanted to do, and I liked the idea of completing my Honours.
When did you do your degree?
Between 2009 and 2013 at the University of Wollongong, had a couple of years off and got into work.
I played a couple of years in Ireland with Pembroke Cricket Club in Dublin and travelled in between before I started working.
I actually had a gap year when I was 18 and went over there to play with Pembroke and, then when I finished uni, I went over there as their overseas professional.
Why did you choose Geography?
Geography at high school was probably one of my favourite subjects.
And why Climate Change for your thesis?
A thesis is obviously something very different, you’re not doing coursework, you’re out there doing research for 12 months. I was trying to add another dimension to my studies.
I’ve always been interested in climate change. I know that I am currently not working in that field, but I’ll always be interested.
It’s something that’s obviously at the forefront of everyone’s minds now and a very important issue at the moment.
Why did you choose to work in environmental planning?
When I came back to Sydney from Ireland, it had been two years since I graduated, I wasn’t in a position where I could be ultra-selective.
The opportunity to work at Telstra popped up, I figured rightly that it was a good idea to get into a big company early and establish myself, get networking and get contacts.
The hardest part about being an environmental planner?
I think the hardest part is being across all the legislation and regulations. You’ve constantly got to be reading up, if there are any updates.
The good thing about it generally is if there is an Act that comes out it doesn’t get amended or changed for many years, unlike if you’re a doctor or in a profession like that.
How does work help your cricket?
It’s a distraction from cricket.
I’ve been playing cricket for 25 years. I’m not cricket obsessed by any means, I’m not a cricket nuff.
So work is a really good distraction from cricket in the same way that cricket is a really good distraction from work.
The hardest part about balancing cricket and work?
Trying to fit in cricket and work at the same time.
The fact you have worked and studied for most of your life, does that help you appreciate your cricket more?
It puts things into perspective a lot more. Knowing that I studied for five years, and I was working for a few years before I started playing with the Thunder.
You come into it and see it through a different lens, as opposed to if you were involved with cricket from a very young age.
I see it for what it is and it’s an absolute luxury to be able to play, travel and participate in the sport that you love.
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.
