It is said that you can only truly enjoy the mountain top view if you have travelled the long winding road to get there.
North West Dragons women’s captain, Tazmin Brits, is the perfect example of this wisdom after nearly a decade and a half in the sporting world.
Brits recently smashed a brilliant 119 not out off just 66 balls in a T20 match for the North West Dragons against Free State at Senwes Park. This was a clear reminder for the SA selectors ahead of the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup. Brits certainly has the firepower and determination to succeed at whatever comes her way – even if that means re-evaluating her dreams after a life-changing accident.
Brits’ extraordinary story would not be too out of place in any Hollywood Sports movie.
After experiencing the ecstasy of winning gold in the javelin at the World Youth Athletics Championships in 2007, she was plunged into despair when she missed out on her dream of representing SA at the 2012 Olympic Games due to her injuries after a serious car accident.
Looking back, her life could have been much worse or even over if she had not received the necessary medical attention on the day of the accident. But now, eight years on, she has taken to cricket like a duck to water. Brits is an SA Proteas women player and a regular fixture in the SA T20 squad. Where one door closed, another one opened for the determined and positive Brits.
“I started playing cricket with the boys in the KOSH Primary School Cricket leagues back in the day. I’ve enjoyed cricket from an early age,” explains Brits.
“I stopped playing cricket in grade 11 to focus on my javelin career as the world champion at that stage,” stated Brits as she points to her Olympic rings tattoo.
“The car accident changed my perspective, though. I had to learn to walk again after being in a wheelchair for two months. After a while, I knew I could not reach the heights in javelin anymore. That is when cricket opened a new and exciting door for me.”
Brits credits the current North West Dragons women coach, Francois van der Merwe, for her development in the sport. He initially urged her to pursue cricket as a sport.
“It has been great working with him for the past couple of years. He has cultivated a great family atmosphere and team ethic at the Dragons,” she said.
Brits can attest to this as she was part of the North West Dragons women who claimed the national T20 and one-day titles and the national week, the previous season.
After a couple of eye-catching performances for her province, Brits finally made a name for herself in the Proteas setup with a debut against Bangladesh in 2018. She also hit a fantastic 70 against a strong Indian team on the recent India tour.
“I enjoy opening the batting and playing the ball straight. My teammates sometimes joke that I hit too straight and hit the stumps at the bowler’s end. My experience in the SA setup has also made me learn to play with less fear of failure. When you play your natural game, you will play your best cricket,” added Brits.
This attacking opener is confident that she can continue her excellent form in the coming Women’s T20 Super League in Cape Town later this month.
“I want to score a couple of 50s at the tournament to make sure I do everything I can to book my spot for the 2020 T20 Women’s World Cup in Australia in February.”
