Wife's cancer battle put cricket in perspective for New Zealand's Blair Tickner

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

With Sarah having completed her cancer treatment in August this year, Tickner says he is now trying to enjoy the game without allowing it to define him. Speaking on the eve of the second ODI against India in Wellington, the New Zealand pacer reflected on a difficult period for his family and how it has changed his outlook.

"My life, yeah, it's been up and down," Tickner said. "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," he added.

Sarah was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a form of blood cancer, in May 2024. She underwent eight months of intensive chemotherapy and entered full remission in August that year. Her treatment stretched over more than two years, with the family having to navigate a period of considerable uncertainty. Tickner, who also has a young daughter, said the experience had helped him understand where cricket stood in the larger scheme of things.

"...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." Courtesy: Blair Tickner/Instagram

The change in outlook has been visible in the way Tickner has approached his cricket. He was at the centre of an entertaining exchange with India's Gurnoor Brar during the first ODI in Auckland. After Brar repeatedly tested him with short deliveries, Tickner gestured towards his stumps, seemingly asking the Indian pacer to target them instead. Brar stuck to his plan and had him caught behind by KL Rahul off another short ball. Tickner walked off smiling.

The New Zealand quick had made the most of his opportunity at No. 11, smashing 34 off 23 balls, with four sixes and a boundary. Three of those sixes came in one over against Arshdeep Singh. It was an entertaining late burst, even if it could not prevent New Zealand from being bowled out for 185.WELLINGTON WELCOME FOR BOWLERS?

Tickner will hope to make another impact when the teams meet at Hnry Stadium on Saturday. He is also looking forward to conditions that offer something to the bowlers. New Zealand had beaten England in Wellington last year after bowling them 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, hoping for that. I don't want to be at a game that's a 400 chase 400," he said.

"So, I'm looking for a little bit of extra bounce, hopefully a bit of nip off the wicket and, yeah, it'll be a good game."

But his priorities have shifted beyond the contest on Saturday. Tickner said he now tries to play with a smile on his face, knowing that the game is only one part of his life.

"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."- Ends