In realms of myriad skills, a talent's bloom,
Young Trisha Chetty stood at destiny's loom.
Sports' varied paths did tempt her gaze,
Yet cricket's song in her heart did blaze.

She heeded the whispers her heart did sing,
Trust in her instincts, like a swallow's wing.
Chetty's rise, a tale from Durban's embrace,
Where dreams were spun, and talents did chase.

At tender seven, in mini-cricket's art,
She took her place, a player's fiery start.
With boys she sparred, a hard-ball dance,
A passion's fire in her stance.

Through primary's days, and high school's grace,
She held her cricket like an honored vase.
From club to KZN's team, she soared,
A journey etched, her heart's score.

"I played at KZN Women," she recollects,
Roots that anchored dreams, a journey she connects.
Her parents' cheers, like stars above,
Guiding lights of boundless love.

"I forged a pact," she fondly claimed,
To self-improve, her spirit aimed.
An infatuation fierce with cricket's art,
Drove her journey from the start.

In Proteas' green, she took her stand,
Debuting proudly for her homeland.
A testament to toil, her skills refined,
Excellence a habit, deeply enshrined.

Between the years, a tapestry spun,
Two Tests, 120 limited-overs, brightly done.
With Shandre Fritz, a record high they set,
Opening partnership no one could forget.

Dismissals gathered, records paved,
In women's cricket, her name engraved.
World Cups graced, her legacy unfurled,
Chetty's journey, a dazzling world.

Challenges few, her path did grace,
A changing landscape, women's cricket's space.
From two tours yearly to a broader view,
Opportunities widened, her dreams came true.

Memories cherished, friendships pure,
Years of togetherness, a bond secure.
Beating England's might, a triumphant day,
In T20 World Cup's fervent fray.

Retirement called, a chapter closed,
Yet in cricket's world, her spirit still composed.
A wicketkeeping sage, she aspired to be,
Guiding talents to cricket's sea.

A consultant's role, with wisdom's gleam,
Imparting knowledge like a flowing stream.
To youth and future stars, a guiding light,
Elevating their skills to soaring height.

Her parents' lessons, like whispered wind,
A compass true, their values thinned.
Her mom, an anchor, a pillar tall,
Guiding her rise, through highs and fall.

"To shine is to be," a mantra profound,
Her parents' wisdom, a steady sound.
For aspiring souls, her message clear,
The women's game, on growth's frontier.

Beyond the crease, a home's embrace,
A beagle's joy, a cozy space.
With heart ablaze, in all she's done,
She aimed for excellence, the rising sun.
[Submitted by Estea Rademeyer]