New Zealand fast bowler Blair Tickner has revealed how his wife’s battle with leukaemia transformed his perspective on life and professional cricket. The challenging period helped the 33-year-old move away from the pressure of international performances and rediscover the happiness of simply representing his country.
Tickner’s wife, Sarah, was diagnosed with leukaemia in April 2024 and spent the following eight months undergoing treatment. Her discharge from hospital on Christmas Eve that year brought immense relief to the family. She has remained in remission since then, marking an important chapter in their journey.
The experience had a profound impact on Tickner, who admitted that his priorities have changed considerably. Speaking ahead of the second ODI against India, the New Zealand pacer explained how his approach to cricket has evolved following his family’s difficult experience.
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“My life, yeah, it’s been up and down,” Blair 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.”
Having come through a challenging period with his family, Blair Tickner wants to “play with a smile on my face” and “just be myself” https://t.co/W2AAudjdmc
— Cricinfo (@cricinfo) November 6, 2026
Tickner made his international debut in T20Is in 2019 before earning his first ODI cap in 2022. He subsequently made his Test debut in 2023, gradually becoming part of New Zealand’s fast-bowling options. However, his opportunities in the 50-over format have remained limited, with just 19 ODI appearances to his name.
Despite the challenges of establishing himself at the international level, Blair Tickner now wants to make the most of every opportunity rather than allow performance-related expectations to affect his enjoyment of the game. “…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,” he added.
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The New Zealand fast bowler also explained how becoming a father has further strengthened his understanding of what matters most outside cricket.
“I try to play with a smile on my face, and, yeah, 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,” Tickner concluded. For Tickner, cricket remains an important part of life, but his family’s happiness and well-being now come first.
