Momentum Proteas opener Tazmin Brits has a remarkable story of resilience that needs to be told the world over to inspire the next generation of women in cricket.
Brits, who’s journey started with Javelin came from a family of sport where her mom played tennis and father and older brother played rugby. In fact, in 2007, a 16-year-old Brits was crowned world junior champion in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
“Besides my family I’ve been deeply involved in sport from a young age especially in Primary School where you do everything, I played Netball, Hockey, I even tried Rugby. Recently until I got a call from my coach Hilton saying “you shouldn’t even be doing that, we have a World Cup around the corner.” But I love sport, I’m a sport fanatic.”
However a tragic accident changed the course of her life and she had to stop playing Javelin but in an incredible way she rose in a remarkable way to see herself in the final of the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup, at home in South Africa.
“I was down and under, I actually was suicidal, I was very depressed and had to see someone. I lived for Javelin and when it was taken away from me I was devasted. Sport is my life. When Javelin was taken away from me it felt like the end of the world”
The Momentum Proteas had to settle for a silver medal after a defeat to defending champions Australia. Though there’s so much triumph for the SA senior side despite falling short.
“I’m glad that sport in our country for women is on the rise. Now with contracts you can fully focus on sport and not do a 9-5.” – Momentum Proteas opener Tazmin Brits
This World Cup, hosted in South Africa, was a moment that will never be forgotten by South Africans that watched on TV, South Africans that went to Newlands to watch the game live but certainly it’ll be a moment to remember for the Proteas players and technical staff.
Brits made her Proteas debut in May 2018 and never imagined that one day she’s be representing her country in a tournament as big as the world cup.
“Never in my life. I was actually sitting in a bar with a bunch of friends, a friend needed cricketers and he asked me to just rock up with my tekkies. I started playing just for the fun of it. It was very fun how this turned out. Never in my life did I think I’d get to a world cup, in my country and be runners up.”
All online tickets for the fixture have were sold out on Saturday before the final on Sundat, which forced tournament organisers to make another 3 000 available earlier this week for the upper tier of the iconic venue.
“It was overwhelming to me, the crowds motivated us to want more. When you play in your own country and you hear people sing Nkosi’ Sikelela, chanting your name, it was amazing.”
The opener took a catch of a lifetime to remove Alice Capsey in the semi-final against England.
“What a catch!” exclaimed commentator Kass Naidoo. “You can’t keep Tazmin Brits out of the game.”
“If you had to ask me if I’d be in a world Cup and take that catch at 32 year old I wouldn’t think I’d be able to. There’s 2.1 million views on that catch and many of those views are probably me, I still can’t believe it,” revealed Brits.
The automatic qualifiers for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 have been identified after the end of the eighth edition of the tournament that saw Australia win their sixth title at Newlands in Cape Town on Sunday, 26 February 2023.
As per the qualification process, the top three teams from each group earn direct qualification along with the hosts and the highest ranked team outside of the six direct qualifiers from the 10-team tournament.
Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are the teams to earn direct qualification as the top three teams of Group 1 in the league stage while England, India and the West Indies similarly make it from Group 2.
Brits believes that, “Next year Bangladesh, maybe that’s the one.”
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