Matthew Breetzke

Matthew Breetzke is a South African top-order batter known for his technically sound stroke play, composure at the crease and ability to score across different formats. Born on 3 November 1998 in Port Elizabeth, now Gqeberha, Breetzke progressed through South Africa’s age-group system and represented the country at the 2018 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. A right-handed batter who can also keep wicket when required, he built his reputation through consistent performances in South African domestic cricket before making his T20I debut for the Proteas against Australia in 2023.

Breetzke’s biggest breakthrough came in ODI cricket when he produced a remarkable 150 against New Zealand in Lahore on his debut in February 2025. The innings made him the first player in men’s ODI history to score 150 on debut, surpassing the previous record of 148 held by Desmond Haynes. He followed that performance with exceptional consistency, becoming the first batter to score at least fifty runs in each of his first five ODI innings. His ability to construct an innings while maintaining a healthy scoring rate quickly established him as an important part of South Africa’s limited-overs batting plans.

Breetzke continued his strong ODI form into 2026 and further strengthened his reputation as one of South Africa’s promising batting options. He has also represented franchises including Durban’s Super Giants, Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Lucknow Super Giants. With a compact technique, strong temperament and growing ability to adapt to different batting positions, Breetzke has emerged as an important player in South Africa’s plans across white-ball cricket.