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New Zealand fast bowler Blair Tickner says his wife Sarah’s successful battle with cancer changed his perspective, helping him focus on enjoying his cricket.
New Zealand fast bowler Blair Tickner with his family. (Picture Credit: IG/ticks93)
For New Zealand fast bowler Blair Tickner, success on the cricket field no longer carries the weight it once did.
Tickner’s wife underwent treatment for leukaemia in 2024 which has fundamentally altered the cricketer’s approach to his career. He has moved on from performance-related pressure and rediscovered the joy of just playing cricket.
Sarah was diagnosed with leukaemia in April 2024 and spent the next eight months undergoing treatment.
Her discharge from hospital on Christmas Eve that year marked a major moment for the family, with her remaining in remission ever since.
The experience proved pivotal for Tickner.
“My life, yeah, it’s been up and down,” the 33-year-old pacer said ahead of the second ODI against India. “It’s amazing to have Sarah and my family through it all. And, I guess, now I’m just trying to enjoy my cricket and I’m probably being a bit more myself. I think I’ve had different parts of my career. I guess, start of my career, I felt a lot of pressure, then when we had Sarah’s cancer treatment, it was hard.”
Tickner‘s international career began with a T20I debut in 2019. He went on to make his ODI debut in 2022 before earning his first Test cap in 2023.
However, he has made only 19 appearances in ODIs since.
Now, with a different outlook, the pacer is more interested in enjoying his opportunities than worrying about the demands that come with international cricket.
“…now I’m sort of in the back end and I’m looking forward to just having fun, really. And it’s what I’m trying to do, showing myself,” he said.
The father of a daughter, Tickner said the experience also brought into focus what truly matters away from the cricket field.
“I try to play with a smile on my face, and, yeah, it’s a lot more than cricket, obviously. It’s done a lot for me, but I know that at the end of the day, I’m going to go home to my daughter and my wife and I’m pretty happy and pretty lucky to do that. So, yeah, cricket’s a little bit less than that,” he said.
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Ask News18Blair Tickner’s wife’s battle with leukaemia shifted his outlook, helping him move past performance-related pressure and rediscover the joy of simply enjoying his cricket.
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Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience …Read More
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