Matthew Breetzke became the first batter to hit 150 runs on ODI debut, getting to the landmark against New Zealand in the recent tri-series. He followed it up with another half-century, but has not been picked in South Africa's squad for the Champions Trophy.
Breetzke, aged 26, became the 156th ODI debutant for South Africa in Lahore, earning his cap alongside Mihlali Mpongwana and Senuran Muthusamy against New Zealand last week. He made an immediate impact, creating history at the top of the order, becoming the 19th batter to score an ODI hundred on debut and the first to reach the 150-run mark in his very first innings.
With the game on February 10, a day before teams could make final changes to their Champions Trophy squad, many wondered if Breetzke would be a last-minute entry. It was not to be.
His inclusion in the squad for the tri-series was also not straightforward, with the South Africa selectors considering the SA20 schedule before picking the team for the short competition.
What was South Africa’s team for the tri-series?
The Proteas squad was surprising, with the selectors initially announcing only a 12-member team for the first two games of the tri-series. The side included six uncapped players in ODIs, including Breetzke, who has, however, played a Test match and 10 T20Is. With the Champions Trophy beginning on February 19, the tri-series would have been ideal preparation for the tournament, but South Africa’s priority to the SA20 meant several first-choice players missed out on travelling to Pakistan.
The SA20 contracts stipulate that the tournament will be given first importance in case of scheduling clashes, even if international matches are involved. This is also why South Africa sent a third-string team to New Zealand for the Test series last year.
This time, the SA20 knockouts were scheduled to be held between February 4 and February 8, while South Africa’s games in the tri-series were on February 8 and 12. Several first-choice ODI players were involved in the knockouts, which would have given them an extremely short turnover time between the tournaments. It would have involved travelling from one continent to another and changing gears from T20s to ODIs in less than 48 hours.
To avoid last-minute burnouts, an inexperienced side was picked instead. Breetzke was selected to open as both the other openers usually in the side, Ryan Rickleton and Tony de Zorzi, were both involved in the SA20 playoffs. Skipper Temba Bavuma, was not signed by any team in the SA20 and was, thus, available for the tri-series.
De Zorzi, who is named in the Champions Trophy squad, was available for the game against Pakistan after his SA20 commitments ended, and was asked to open alongside Bavuma in the game. Breetzke, despite scoring 150 at the top in the previous match, was demoted to No.3, where he made 83.
Was Breetzke in line for a Champions Trophy selection?
Unlikely. Changing the make-up of the side at the last minute suggests unclear plans, a message no team wants to send out before a world event. De Zorzi made his debut in 2023 and has played eight games in the last five months, being given a long rope as the preparations for the Champions Trophy began. Though he has crossed 35 just once in this period, South Africa have traditionally stayed away from unsettling their squad ahead of an ICC tournament. Back in 2019, when AB de Villiers made himself available for the World Cup, more than a year after he last played an ODI for South Africa, his request was turned down by then-chief selector Linda Zondi as it would have been “unethical to the players already selected.”
Rickelton, who has played six ODIs, does not have an average that stands out either (31.33) but retains his place in the squad as well.
What are Breetzke’s List A numbers?
Breetzke has played 61 50-over games, making 1,878 runs at an average of 33.53. He has two hundreds, including his 150, along with 12 fifties. He has also taken a wicket, and has played 112 T20 matches, where he has a strike rate of 132.33.
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