Tazmin Brits, South Africa’s opening batter, is embarking on a T20 World Cup journey that transcends the game itself. She plays for her mother, Zeldine, who is battling breast cancer. Despite her mother’s absence due to treatment, Brits draws strength from her resilience.
Brits’ journey has been marked by adversity. She lost her father to Covid-19 in 2021 and suffered a life-threatening car accident in 2011. After contemplating suicide, she found solace in sports, returning to javelin and eventually switching to cricket.
Her determination paid off as she made the national team and has become a mainstay at the top of the order. In the past year, she has scored her first and second ODI centuries, five of her 12 T20I fifties, and a maiden domestic T20 hundred.
Brits attributes her success to her focus on strike rate, recognizing the need to improve for opportunities in major leagues. She also dreams of competing in the Olympics, with cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Beyond her personal goals, Brits is driven by the desire to win a World Cup for South Africa. She believes it would be a transformative moment for the nation. As a symbol of her commitment, she plans to get a World Cup trophy tattoo if they win.
October, the month of the T20 World Cup, also marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Brits will honor her mother’s fight by dedicating her performances to her.
