New Zealand fast bowler Blair Tickner says his wife's battle with cancer has changed his perspective on life. The experience has helped him move away from performance pressure and focus on enjoying cricket.
Tickner's wife, Sarah, was diagnosed with leukaemia in April 2024 and underwent eight months of treatment. She was discharged from hospital on Christmas Eve that year and has remained in remission since. The 33-year-old pacer said the difficult period taught him to value his family and look beyond cricket.
"My life, yeah, it's been up and down. 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," Tickner said ahead of the second ODI against India. Reflecting on his career, he admitted that he felt considerable pressure during its early stages. However, his wife's illness changed his outlook, and he now wants to enjoy the game rather than worry about performances.
Tickner made his T20I debut in 2019 before earning ODI and Test call-ups in 2022 and 2023. He has played 19 ODIs and is currently part of New Zealand's squad for the home series against India. "I try to play with a smile on my face and, yeah, there's a lot more to life than cricket. 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," he added.
India won the rain-affected first ODI by five wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.