Cricket
Tazmin Brits: Chasing Big League Dreams and Setting High Standards for 2024
South African cricket star Tazmin Brits aims for top rankings and league play abroad, reflecting on her World Cup journey, batting partnership, and goals for 2024.
Image Credits: Jan Kruger-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
The dust has finally settled post the ICC Women's T20 Cricket World Cup where the Proteas Women’s side suffered defeat in the Final at the hands of New Zealand.
Tazmin Brits who has been in scintillating form for the national side was named in the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup Dream Team.
"I am a bit shocked in a way. When I did it last year for the first time and I was jeepers how am I going to match that again. How am I going to have a World Cup where I'm scoring runs but to do it again was great. In a way it is still a bit unreal but I have set expectations of myself now,” Brits told SportsBoom.com.
The Big Leagues
Following the World Cup, many would have thought Brits would be picked up by overseas franchises but unfortunately it was not to be as she is currently in South Africa with her new local franchise the DP World Lions.
Brits was asked if she has any aspirations to play in the big leagues and follow in the same footsteps as her national teammates Laura Wolvaardt and Marizaan Kapp.
"Look I am going to be honest and upfront. Ofcourse I do...I have been trying to get in any of those leagues, whether it's the CPL [Caribbean Premier League] or the Smash [Super Smash] in New Zealand. I have literally tried everything I possibly can and I don't know what more I need to do to get into those leagues."
Sometimes I think it's maybe who you know because they always take more or less the same players over and over. But it is definitely one of my goals to play in those leagues.
Tazmin Brits
Batting Mentality
Brits takes us through her approach with batting and the change in mentality over the years. At the World Cup she got the 2nd most runs behind teammate Wolvaardt with 187 runs at an average of 37.40.
"I don't think my approach has changed much but maybe I have matured in the cricket sense. Matured in understanding what are my strengths at weaknesses.”
I do still try to remain as fearless as I can, but before last year's World Cup there was a bit of doubt...if you don't score you might lose your position and get dropped. But after last year's World Cup, I gave them a reason why they shouldn't drop me and a lot of the time when you play fearless cricket you are more confident and automatically the runs come more."
Playing alongside Wolvaardt
Brits and Wolvaardt have been regular names as openers for South Africa and they have complimented each other very well the last couple of seasons. They were the driving force with the bat and ensured the side was in a good position on the scoreboard.
"[Wolvaardt] she is quite experienced although she is young. She plays in all these leagues so she knows a lot of the bowlers, which also helps me. We got different types of techniques from each other but I also think we complement each other well.”
We are quite good between the wickets and for some reason we have been clicking. If I am not mistaken I think we averaged 107 at the World Cup between me and her as an opening partnership. That is good news for us South Africans that we can top the charts, if I can put it that way.
Tazmin Brits
T20 World Cup Final
South Africa featured in consecutive World Cup Finals. They gave Australia a shock defeat in the Semi FInal to book a place in the Final against New Zealand. Both these teams have never won the T20 World Cup.
"With this recent World Cup, I must admit we did the hard yards in beating Australia in the Semi [Final]. I wouldn't say New Zealand is a walkover but I do think they should've been or were the easier team to beat. I think prior to the game [vs New Zealand] everyone was confident in a way and maybe we didn't stick to the basics and were just not good enough on the day."
"Cricket, especially T20, is quite a funny game and it's literally anyone's game on the day no matter what country you are from."
Impact of Paul Adams
Paul Adams was brought in to assist with the spin bowlers and has since found his purpose as the motivational guru with inspiring poems for the teams before games.
"I am not a bowler but I have heard from Lefty [Nonkululeko Mlaba] and other spinners that he is quite an experienced coach. He doesn't really look to change much with the bowlers. Again this what I heard from the other bowlers. But outside that, he is actually quite a character. He brings a positive vibe in the camp, every single game before we walked onto the field he always had these poems."
"I made a nice little joke, I said where do you get these poems from Google.com or something. Because they were proper poems and he printed photos and took off his shoes and said you need to be grounded. A lot of the time when someone voices something like that, a seed gets planted in your head and you realise you have to be in the moment, be present, be grounded and really it's a privilege to play this game. You start to appreciate more things but he is impressive I must say."
Domestic and International Goals for 2024
Currently Brits is involved in the local domestic 50 over and T20 competitions in South Africa with her new side. She shares a few goals and objectives she will look to obtain throughout the summer season.
"I think if I am not mistaken, I am ranked 6th in the ICC T20 [batting] rankings. My main goal will always look to be in the top 3 [ICC Rankings]. Once you are in the top 3 people will notice you a bit more.”
“Of course my strike rate, I am trying to get that a bit higher. Which contributes to a lot of leagues. Going forward with the upcoming ODI World Cup in India, I would like to make that squad first because I am known as a T20 player. But I personally believe I can do both Test and ODIs but I just need to get that to click. But overall make the ODI team."
Nathan has over a decade of knowledge and experience, both as a former professional sportsperson and journalist. Nathan, a former radio sports presenter and producer is an award-winning community radio sports producer/presenter.