Proteas Women opener Tazmin Brits not ready to give up the World Cup dream just yet

GQEBERHA: Having had a belated start to her ODI career, Tazmin Brits has no intention of giving it all up anytime soon, especially after the Proteas opener enjoyed the best year of her career. 

Brits will be 35 years old in just over a fortnight, and should be approaching the backend, but having scored the most hundreds - five - in a calendar year by any women’s batter ever during 2025, the veteran opener feels she still has so much more to give the national team. 

“Funny enough, I actually said to coach (Mandla Mashimbyi) when I rejoined the team, because before the World Cup final, he called a few of the seniors and said this might be our last one,” Brits said at St George’s Park ahead of the second ODI against Ireland on Tuesday. 

“And yeah, we were always thinking that. But I sat him down on the cooler box, and I said to him, he mustn't get rid of me yet. 

“I'm definitely going to try and stay as fit as I possibly can, definitely improve on my game. And yeah, I'd like to play one more ODI World Cup.”

It would take a brave soul to bet against Brits fulfilling her goal of being at the next ODI World Cup, despite the fact that she would be 39 by then, for the former javelin thrower is accustomed to overcoming obstacles. 

When her 2012 Olympic dreams were crushed due to a car accident, causing a broken pelvis, dislocated hip and burst bladder, she transformed herself into a world-class international cricketer. 

It’s also the reason why she suffers from severe “FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out) whenever she is forced to sit on the bench, like during the recent T20I series against Ireland when she was recovering from an injured shoulder. 

“I went and watched the game live in Cape Town, there at Newlands, and I think I only watched half of it. And I said to one of my friends there, I said, no, I think it's time I leave,” Brits said.

“To be honest, it wasn't great. It definitely doesn't sit well with me. I always want to be out there and represent the country, and especially in T20.”

Brits’ right-shoulder is still heavily strapped and said, “I’ll throw with my left hand if I need to” but has recovered sufficiently to take her place at the top of the order alongside captain Laura Wolvaardt. 

She struck a breezy 27 off 30 balls in the first ODI at Buffalo Park before by self-admission getting out to “wasn’t a great shot”. Brits is keen to make amends in Gqeberha on Tuesday against the Irish. 

“Coach said, if I just swing through, I'll probably hit a six. But yeah, you learn from those things,” she said. 

“Obviously looking at the second ODI, we'll talk about intent, so we’re going to definitely try and maybe rotate strike a bit better and maybe not hog too many balls. Hopefully we can improve on that.”

The Proteas are utilising the ODI series against Ireland to test their squad depth which could place Western Province seamer Leah Jones in line for a debut at St George’s Park on Tuesday. 

SQUADS FOR ST GEORGE’S PARK

South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (C), Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Sune Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Nondumiso Shangase, Chloe Tryon, Faye Tunnicliffe, Dane van Niekerk.

Ireland: Gaby Lewis (captain), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Sarah Forbes, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Aimee Maguire, Jane Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, ⁠Orla Prendergast, Rebecca Stokell.

Start: 10am