Matthew Breetzke has been told his place in the Proteas ODI side is not secure despite averaging 64.18 in 12 matches.
The 27-year-old revealed he recently had “a brief conversation” with convenor of selectors Patrick Moroney, who delivered a blunt assessment.
“It was basically that, for the foreseeable future, they don’t see me in the T20 and Test sides because there are batters ahead of me,” Breetzke told SportsBoom.co.za. “With regard to the one-day side, he said my spot is not secured.
“That’s pretty much it, but I’ll be working hard to put down a weight of runs and hopefully secure a spot in the near future. That’s definitely the goal.”
Breetzke, who made his T20I debut against Australia in Durban in 2023, has scored 158 runs in 13 matches at an average of 13.16, while in two Test appearances – against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe – he scored just 14 runs.
However, he has been prolific in 50-over cricket, making the highest ODI score on debut – 150 against New Zealand – and going on to become the first batsman to score fifty or more in each of his first five ODI innings. His 706 runs include a century and six fifties.
Breetzke remains undeterred, despite Moroney’s feedback.
“I want to play all formats for South Africa,” he said. “In T20 cricket, there are maybe one or two shots I can add to elevate my game.”
Breetzke, who is currently with the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, admitted that shifting roles across teams has been challenging.
“I’ve played for five or six teams over the last two years and each team has given me a different role. I’d need clarity on where I fit in and then take it from there.”
In Test cricket, he believes consistency and opportunity are key.
“I’ve batted at six, then opened, and then I was out.
“The weight of runs will help a lot [to get back into the Test squad]. I’ve got a massive burning desire to play all three formats.”
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Breetzke’s immediate focus, however, is firmly on the 2027 ODI World Cup on home soil.
“I’m not desperate to make the squad, but I’m desperate to win the World Cup,” he said. “That’s all that’s on my mind.
“The dream is to hit the winning runs for South Africa and win a World Cup at home.”
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