Blair Tickner, the 5 ft 11 inch tall pacer from New Zealand, who loves to wear a vintage Casio wristwatch, has a connection with his heart without elaborating further. He said, “It’s a little throwback at heart, I think,” to Times of Bangladesh in an exclusive interview.
However, throughout the conversation, he sounded like a grown, mature man who once had a dream to play for New Zealand at the top level, and who has seen life from different perspectives. He carries a tone that reflects a philosopher’s mindset, blended with reality. He also enjoys nostalgia. His sense of life now revolves around family, cricket, and enjoyment.
After making a comeback to the national side following a one-and-a-half-year gap, the right-arm medium pacer is focused on enjoying his game rather than taking pressure. He started with a 10-0-40-4 bowling figure in the first ODI against Bangladesh, and his team went on to win the game by 26 runs while defending 247 in Mirpur.
When asked how satisfying the comeback was and how it felt to perform, Tickner echoed a tone of clear satisfaction. “It’s been a satisfying return to playing for New Zealand. I think it’s been four wickets. So it’s been pretty cool to be back as part of the group,” he said.
Despite having played 4 Tests, 18 ODIs, and 18 T20Is, he feels it was his performance that kept him out of the national side. Reflecting on missing international cricket for almost two years, Tickner acknowledged the dip in form.
“I think after two years out from not playing for New Zealand and the first stint with the Black Caps from 2019 onwards, I sort of got a lot of cricket but I didn’t perform at times,” he said.
However, the Napier-born pacer now just wants to enjoy his game. “I feel like now I just have no pressure on me to perform and I’ve just been enjoying it and hopefully keep producing good results for the team.”
The 32-year-old Tickner made his Test debut against England at Mount Maunganui back in 2023. However, his hometown Hawke’s Bay, located on New Zealand’s east coast, was brutally destroyed by Cyclone Gabrielle just days before his Test debut. Following that debut, he was visibly emotional, with tears rolling down his face as he addressed the media.
Having returned to a place where his home was broken, and later earning the chance to play international cricket in New Zealand’s depth-driven system, Tickner reflected on what it took from him in terms of mental strength.
He said while reflecting that life is bigger than sport in situations like this, “I guess to be honest, cricket is just a sport. So every time you get out there, and especially playing for New Zealand, it’s just about enjoying it and putting all that other stuff to the side and making sure that when you go out there you’re having a good time.”
Later in May 2024, his wife Sarah Tickner was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. However, Tickner learned to deal with it through a step-by-step approach, similar to how he approaches life and cricket.
While admitting it was a tough phase for his family, he said, “It’s been a difficult time for my whole family, but I think we just get through it step by step like we have with everything else with cricket, with life, and with this diagnosis.”
Sarah, who underwent eight months of intensive chemotherapy, entered remission in August 2024 and is continuing maintenance treatment, which is expected to last until August 2026.
Tickner said, “So we sort of got through it and she’s come to the end of treatment. So it’s been tough, but there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully we’re all through it now.”
From these two of the hardest phases of his life, Tickner has taken important lessons. He said, “Probably the biggest lesson is just my daughter. Having been around home with her and showing her that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. So that’s probably been the biggest.”
These events have also brought a shift in his outlook on cricket. When asked how that realization has influenced the way he plays the game now, he said, “I think it’s just you don’t stress about the small things. I think you realize, like you said, it’s just a game and you just want to enjoy it like you did as a kid. So I don’t really feel as much pressure as I did back when I first played for New Zealand and that’s probably a good way to be about it.”
He does not want to carry regrets and is focused on finding enjoyment while representing his country at the international level. He concluded, “Life’s great. Yeah, it’s good to be back as part of the Black Caps, good to be around good guys in an amazing country playing cricket. And hopefully we can get the T20 series win and we can go home happy.”
Nahid Rana, the right-arm Bangladesh pacer, also caught Tickner’s attention. Regarding the stellar performance of the 23-year-old pacer, who claimed the ODI Player of the Series, Tickner was full of praise.
“I think you’ve obviously seen the development of all the fast bowlers, but he’s obviously a very talented fast bowler and keeps his bowling speeds up. So no, it’s cool to see him in action and I think, yeah, he’ll go far,” he said.
