A professional cricketer from India is hoping to hit the business world for six after studying for an MBA at the University of Wales, Newport.

Anand Tummala from New Delhi has already made his mark in cricket - he recently signed to coach and play for Croesyceiliog Cricket Club in the South Wales Premier League - and now aims to repeat that success in the business world.

"Cricket is much more than a game, it's a phenomenon," said 27-year-old Anand. "It teaches you so much about life and business, helping you to keep an open mind and see things from different perspectives. Working as a member of a cricket team is great experience for working in business. I see the MBA as a platform from which to launch myself on a successful career in marketing and international business."

Like hundreds of students from all over the world, Anan was attracted to the MBA course at Newport Business School because it is one of only three UK universities that are developing complexity theory as part of its innovative programme.

"Coming to this university has been a big boost for me," he added. "I'm now captain and coach of the University cricket team and I've been sponsored for a cricket coaching course. It just shows that if you are ready to take the initiative the university will support you, which is just what every student needs."

All-rounder Anand was snapped up in a pre-season coup by Croesyceiliog CC who recognised his talent as a fully qualified coach. He will also be putting his skills with bat and ball to good use for them once he qualifies to play for them in July.

He first fell in love with cricket when he was 14 and scored 198 in one innings. Soon he was captain of the team at his secondary school, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, and won an outstanding cricketer award with feats like taking nine wickets for 37 runs. He went on to India's number one college, St Stephen's in new Delhi, where he was the highest wicket taker for two years, and also played for Malviya CC who won the Delhi Ranji trophy, which is equivalent to the county championships here.

"Cricket is everything where I come from," he said. "It's a sport that has a lot in common with education."

His first visit to the UK was in 1995 as part of a student international exchange programme as vice-captain of a cricket team. Since then he has captained a number of sides including a team in Abu Dhabi where he gained his Masters degree in social sciences.