Suzie Bates credited her childhood fixation on TV to sporting legends Michael Jordan and Sachin Tendulkar, admiring Tendulkar’s batting and Jordan’s presence on the screen.
Suzie Bates is a standout figure in women’s cricket, having left a mark since her debut, boasting more runs in T20Is than even Virat Kohli, with 4231 runs, alongside an impressive tally of 5673 runs in ODIs. Beyond cricket, the 36-year-old showcased her versatility by representing New Zealand in basketball at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Despite her cricketing achievements, Bates reminisced about being captivated by the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Michael Jordan during her upbringing, with their remarkable performances on screen leaving a lasting impression.
“Two athletes that used to make me stop and watch them were Michael Jordan and Sachin Tendulkar. Whenever those two people were on, I just was fixated on the TV. I loved Tendulkar’s presence at the crease. I loved the amount of runs he scored. And he was the one batter that I remember just always wanting to watch,” The Hindu quoted Bates as saying.
Bates, a key figure in the ICC World Cup New Zealand Women’s team, also reflected on their journey, reaching three ICC finals without clinching the trophy. While initially seen as failures, she now acknowledged the significance of those achievements.
“As a cricketer, winning a World Cup, I think, is the pinnacle, but we did not. Early on in my career, we came second three times and, you know, that was a failure to me. But now that I look back on that, the fact that we played in three World Cup finals is an achievement in itself. Playing at Lord’s in that 2020 World Cup final, although the game went terribly for us, was a real highlight,” she added.
“It sounds, I guess, a bit strange, but just to be a part of the White Ferns in a fully professional era from where we came from has been a real highlight for me to be a part of that and just watch the game grow in New Zealand. It makes me really proud that I have been through both eras and yeah, we haven’t won a World Cup. And that is what I have always been driven to do. So those World Cups early on were disappointing. But if I can do that before I retire, I will be one happy cricketer,” Bates concluded.
Last Updated on April 9, 2024
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