Matthew Breetzke Ready to Prove Himself Across All Proteas Formats
South African batter Matthew Breetzke has revealed that his future in the national team remains uncertain, following a conversation with Cricket South Africa Convenor selector Patrick Moroney. Despite excelling in One Day Internationals, Breetzke was told he is not currently in the selectors’ long-term plans for T20I or Test squads.
In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.co.za, Breetzke explained that Moroney highlighted the depth of talent ahead of him in T20I and Test cricket, and that even his ODI place is not guaranteed.
“I had a brief with Patrick Moroney on my future with the Proteas and it was basically that for the foreseeable future, they don’t see me in the T20 and Test side because there are batters ahead of me,” he said. “With regard to the One Day side, he basically said my spot is not secured. That’s pretty much it, and I’ll be working hard to put weight of runs and hopefully secure a spot in the near future.”
Breetzke has impressed in ODIs over the past year, averaging 64 with six fifties and a century in just 12 innings. He has performed against top teams such as Australia, England, and India, and even captained South Africa in a series against Pakistan.
Despite the setback, the 27-year-old remains focused on becoming an all-format player. He acknowledged the need to refine his T20 game and secure a clear role in Test cricket.
“I want to play all formats for South Africa,” he said. “In terms of T20 cricket, there are maybe one or two shots I can add to elevate my skill. In Test cricket, it’s about the weight of runs and understanding the role they see for me.”
Breetzke also shared his ambition to shine in the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, which South Africa will co-host. Reflecting on his past experiences in Under-19 World Cups, he said: “I’ve done a lot of hard work on playing big matches and performing under pressure. Hopefully, I can do that at the Home World Cup in 2027 and hit those winning runs for South Africa.”
Currently, Breetzke is playing his second season with the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League, aiming to continue honing his skills ahead of the World Cup.
Despite the challenging message from selectors, Breetzke’s determination to secure a permanent spot across all formats for the Proteas remains undimmed.
Credit SportsBoom: Here
