Wife’s battle with cancer has given New Zealand’s Blair Tickner a cricketing perspective

New Zealand fast bowler Blair Tickner has spent much of his career trying to live up to expectations. The pressure, he says, was especially strong in the beginning. But after his wife Sarah’s battle with cancer, the 33-year-old found himself looking at cricket and life somewhat differently.

Since Sarah finished cancer treatment this August, Tickner says he’s now trying to enjoy the game without letting it define him. On the eve of the second ODI against India in Wellington, the New Zealand pacer reflected on the difficult time for his family and how it changed his outlook.

“My life, yeah, it’s been up and down,” Tickner said. “It’s amazing that Sarah and my family are going through it all. And I think now I’m just trying to enjoy my cricket and maybe be myself a bit more.”

“I think I’ve had different parts of my career. I think at the beginning of my career I felt a lot of pressure, then when Sarah and I went through cancer treatment it was difficult,” he added.

Sarah was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a form of blood cancer, in May 2024. She underwent eight months of intensive chemotherapy and went into full remission in August of that year. Her treatment dragged on for more than two years, with the family having to go through a period of considerable uncertainty. Tickner, who also has a young daughter, said the experience helped him understand where cricket stood in the bigger scheme of things.

“…I’m kind of behind right now and I’m looking forward to just having fun, really. And that’s what I’m trying to do, to show up.” Courtesy: Blair Tickner/Instagram

The change in outlook was visible in the way Tickner approached his cricket. He was at the center of an entertaining exchange with India’s Gurnoor Brar during the first ODI in Auckland. After Brar repeatedly tested him with short deliveries, Tickner pointed to his stumps and seemingly asked the Indian pacer to target them instead. Brar stuck to his plan and got caught by KL Rahul off the next short ball. Tickner left with a smile.

The New Zealand quick made the most of his opportunity in the 11th over, smashing 34 off 23 balls with four sixes and a boundary. Three of those sixes came against Arshdeep Singh. It was a fun late burst, though he could not prevent New Zealand from being eliminated for 185

WELLINGTON WELCOME FOR BOWLER?

Tickner will be hoping to go further when the teams meet at Henry Stadium on Saturday. He is also looking forward to the conditions that will offer something to bowlers. New Zealand beat England in Wellington last year after being bowled out for 222, with Tickner taking four wickets and contributing 18 runs in a crucial last-wicket stand.

“Yeah, we saw last year against England as well, there’s a little bit in the wicket, especially here. Yeah, as a bowler I’m hoping for that. I don’t want to be in a game that’s 400 chase 400,” he said.

“So I’m looking for a little bit of extra bounce, hopefully I’ll bite the net a little bit and yeah, it’ll be a good game.

But his priorities shifted away from the competition on Saturday. Tickner said he tries to play with a smile on his face now because he knows the game is just one part of his life.

“Obviously it’s a lot more than cricket. It’s done a lot for me but I know at the end of the day I’m going to go home to my daughter and my wife and we’re quite happy and quite happy to be able to do this.”

“So yes, the cricket is a bit less.

– The end