Tazmin Brits, the South African opener, has established herself as a leading batter in international women’s ODIs in 2025, achieving an impressive five centuries this year.
Brits’ consistent performance includes a score of 109 against India in April, followed by 101 against the West Indies in June, and two outstanding innings of 101* and 171* against Pakistan in September. Continuing her strong form, she also scored a record 5th century, 101 against New Zealand in the ongoing Women’s ODI World Cup, helping her team secure a win.
With 42 ODIs and 1,525 runs to her name, Brits is recognized as the fastest woman to reach seven ODI centuries, doing so in just 41 innings, surpassing Meg Lanning’s previous record of 44 innings. Her highest score of 171* further showcases her prowess at the crease.
Beneath these impressive statistics lies a story of resilience and determination. In an interview with Anjum Chopra, Brits shared the personal challenges she faced, particularly after a serious car accident that made her doubt her future. She revealed, “It wasn’t easy. I actually wanted to commit suicide a few times. That went through my mind.”
She attributes much of her strength to her family, especially her mother, who provided crucial support during her difficult times. She said her parents are very supportive, especially her mother. They were there when she needed help to get her mind right, but it wasn’t easy. She had a lot of ups and downs, and she still does sometimes, but that’s part of sport.
Her return to cricket happened quite unexpectedly. She mentioned a coach looking for women cricketers. He was the new coach of North West and needed a few girls to play, and some of my friends told him that I used to play cricket. From there, the cricketing journey took off.
Before making her cricket comeback, she had tried to get back into javelin but felt a stronger pull towards cricket. “Maybe it was God’s way of redirecting me,” she reflected.
In the current World Cup, she had a quiet game against India where she didn’t score but Brits made a brilliant century against New Zealand, reaffirming her status as one of South Africa’s most reliable players. As South Africa prepares to face Bangladesh in Visakhapatnam on October 13, all eyes will be on Brits to maintain her excellent form.
Tazmin Brits’ story is not just about her cricket achievements; it’s a narrative of perseverance, belief, and the importance of a supportive family in overcoming life’s toughest challenges to achieve success in international sports.
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