It’s easy to understand why Shukri Conrad enjoys watching Matthew Breetzke. There’s a cheekiness about his batting that Conrad, as much a fan as he is a coach, finds endearing.
Proteas batting coach Ashwell Prince said about Breetzke: “His mentality is one that, particularly the head coach, likes — we all like — and he takes it to the opposition; that is a big strength of his.”
Already, the “flamingo” lofted on-drive has become his signature shot. The one knee in the air pull over square leg, the lofted cover drive and the cute late cut, were all on display in Australia recently. Along with the style, there’s been substance from Breetzke’s blade too.
In hindsight, it seems absurd that Breetzke wasn’t part of the Champions Trophy squad earlier this year. He made his ODI debut in a triangular series in Pakistan that preceded that tournament, because the more established stars — and those actually picked for the Champions Trophy — were still involved with the SA20.
His mentality is one that, particularly the head coach, likes — we all like — and he takes it to the opposition; that is a big strength of his
— Ashwell Prince, Proteas batting coach
Breetzke scored 150 against New Zealand. He hasn’t missed out since and, in Australia, he became the first batter to make scores of 50 or more in his opening four ODIs. “He plays so straight, and he hits the ball so late,” his provincial coach Robin Peterson said of Breetzke’s technique.
“It’s quite natural, he’s been crafting his technique on some pretty tough pitches at St George’s Park. He’s got the flicks over the leg side, but he is strong square of the wicket on the offside, and he can also hit it through the covers. He hits hard, but then he can also, because he plays it late, make it seem like he’s hitting the ball with a pillow, a bit like Kane Williamson.”
It’s a wide range, and illustrates the enormous talent that emerged at Grey High School, and which so enthused Peterson when he first began working with a 16-year-old Breetzke.
The attacking mentality is born from playing a diet of one-day cricket as a junior, and his willingness to explore. “He’s not afraid,” said Peterson.
Prince added: “Matthew has always been a positive guy, he’s always backed himself. For him, it doesn’t matter who is bowling or who the opposition is.”
Mitchell Santner, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Josh Hazlewood have all been taken apart by Breetzke. Ahead of the ODI series against England, his status in the Proteas has shifted from stopgap — as was the case when he made his debut in February — to starter.
A stint with Northamptonshire in the T20 Blast competition recently means he’s familiar with English conditions. He made four half-centuries in that competition, and carried the form from there Down Under. “He’s training really well. I’ve been impressed with him. We were joking with him that he had to put that bat on ice, because that bat was smashing it. It’s great to see when you’re able to transform that training form into the matches,” said Prince.
Peterson feels Breetzke has become a more mature person, which has helped his cricket. “He’s grown up, he’s gotten engaged and he’s more settled in life. You have to challenge him. I think part of this run of good scores in ODIs is because he can see the competition from other young guys like Dewald [Brevis] and Lhuan-dre [Pretorius],” he added.
Breetzke, Peterson explained, was also a keen student of the game, always posing questions and tapping his brain about his time playing with AB de Villiers, Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis. “You want to take a little bit from every one of the greats; AB’s creativity, Kallis’s consistency and Smith’s grit.
“We watch Virat Kohli to learn about stepping up in the big moments. We’ve butted heads a lot over the years, when I’ve challenged him, but I’ve always found that brings out the best in Matty.”
The series against England, starting on Tuesday, provides more opportunity for Breetzke at an interesting phase in his international career. Like Brevis, Pretorius — who’s yet to make his international debut — and Tristan Stubbs, Conrad wants to give Breetzke more match time before the 2027 World Cup.
In addition the Proteas coach also wants his young batting tyros to not fear failure and embrace being entertainers. In Breetzke’s case, there is certainly no danger of boredom.
SQUADS
SA — Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma (capt), Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Senuran Muthusamy, Kwena Maphaka, Kagiso Rabada, Tony de Zorzi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Corbin Bosch, Nandre Burger.
England — Harry Brook (capt), Tom Banton, Jos Buttler, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Joe Root, Brydon Carse, Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood.
Schedule (Start times SA)
1st ODI, Sept 2, Headingley (2pm)
2nd ODI, Sept 4, Lords (2pm)
3rd ODI, Sept 7, Southampton (Noon)
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