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{{short description|South African cricketer (born 1998)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Matthew Breetzke
| image =
| country = South Africa
| full_name = Matthew Paul Breetzke
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|11|3|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Port Elizabeth]], Eastern Cape, South Africa
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm [[Fast bowling|medium]]
| role = [[Batsman (cricket)|Batter]]
| international = true
| internationalspan = 2023–present

| testdebutdate = 21 October
| testdebutyear = 2024
| testdebutagainst = Bangladesh
| testcap = 367
| lasttestdate = 28 June
| lasttestyear = 2025
| lasttestagainst = Zimbabwe

| odidebutdate = 10 February
| odidebutyear = 2025
| odidebutagainst = New Zealand
| odicap = 156
| lastodidate = 6 December
| lastodiyear = 2025
| lastodiagainst = India

| T20Idebutdate = 3 September
| T20Idebutyear = 2023
| T20Idebutagainst = Australia
| T20Icap = 99
| lastT20Idate = 1 November
| lastT20Iyear = 2025
| lastT20Iagainst = Pakistan
| club1 = [[Eastern Province (cricket team)|Eastern Province]]
| year1 = {{nowrap|2016/17–present}}
| clubnumber1 =
| club2 = [[Warriors (cricket team)|Warriors]]
| year2 = {{nowrap|2017/18–2020/21}}
| clubnumber2 =
| club3 = [[Nelson Mandela Bay Giants]]
| year3 = 2019
| clubnumber3 =
| club4 = [[Durban's Super Giants]]
| year4 = 2023–present
| club5 = [[Northamptonshire County Cricket Club|Northamptonshire]]
| year5 = 2024–present
| club6 = [[Lucknow Super Giants]]
| year6 = 2025
| columns = 4

| column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
| matches1 = 2
| runs1 = 14
| bat avg1 = 4.66
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 13
| deliveries1 = –
| wickets1 = –
| bowl avg1 = –
| fivefor1 = –
| tenfor1 = –
| best bowling1 = –
| catches/stumpings1 = 0/–
| column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
| matches2 = 12
| runs2 = 706
| bat avg2 = 64.18
| 100s/50s2 = 1/6
| top score2 = 150
| deliveries2 = –
| wickets2 = –
| bowl avg2 = –
| fivefor2 = –
| tenfor2 = –
| best bowling2 = –
| catches/stumpings2 = 1/–
| column3 = [[Twenty20 International|T20I]]
| matches3 = 13
| runs3 = 158
| bat avg3 = 13.16
| 100s/50s3 = 0/1
| top score3 = 51
| deliveries3 = –
| wickets3 = –
| bowl avg3 = –
| fivefor3 = –
| tenfor3 = –
| best bowling3 = –
| catches/stumpings3 = 7/–

| column4 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
| matches4 = 62
| runs4 = 3,738
| bat avg4 = 37.00
| 100s/50s4 = 10/17
| top score4 = 188
| deliveries4 = 297
| wickets4 = 2
| bowl avg4 = 88.00
| fivefor4 = 0
| tenfor4 = 0
| best bowling4 = 1/13
| catches/stumpings4 = 38/–
| date = 6 December
| year = 2025
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/595267.html ESPNcricinfo
}}

'''Matthew Paul Breetzke''' (born 3 November 1998) is a South African [[cricket]]er.<ref name=ci>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/595267.html |title=Matthew Breetzke |accessdate=9 February 2017 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref> He made his international debut for the [[South Africa national cricket team]] in September 2023 and has played all three formats of the game for the team.

Born at [[Port Elizabeth]] in 1998 and educated at [[Grey High School]],<ref name=ci/> Breetzke has played domestically for [[Eastern Province cricket team|Eastern Province]] since 2017.

== Domestic career ==
Breetzke made his [[first-class cricket|first-class]] debut for Eastern Province in the [[2016–17 Sunfoil 3-Day Cup]] on 9 February 2017<ref name="FC">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1024817.html |title=Sunfoil 3-Day Cup, Pool B: Free State v Eastern Province at Bloemfontein, Feb 9-11, 2017 |accessdate=9 February 2017 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref> and his [[List A cricket|List A]] debut in the [[2016–17 CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge]] on 12 February.<ref name="LA">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1025017.html |title=CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge, Pool B: Free State v Eastern Province at Bloemfontein, Feb 12, 2017 |accessdate=12 February 2017 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref> He made his [[Twenty20]] debut in the [[2017 Africa T20 Cup]] on 1 September the same year.<ref name="T20">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1116080.html |title=Pool B, Africa T20 Cup at Potchefstroom, Sep 1 2017 |accessdate=1 September 2017 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref>

In December 2017, he was named in South Africa's squad for the [[2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup]].<ref name="SAU19">{{cite web |url=http://cricket.co.za/news/22360/Raynard-van-Tonder-to-captain-South-Africa-at-2018-ICC-U19-World-Cup |title=Raynard van Tonder to captain South Africa at 2018 ICC U19 World Cup |accessdate=11 December 2017 |work=Cricket South Africa |archive-date=29 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629211358/http://cricket.co.za/news/22360/Raynard-van-Tonder-to-captain-South-Africa-at-2018-ICC-U19-World-Cup |url-status=dead }}</ref> In July 2018, he was named in the Cricket South Africa Emerging Squad<ref name="EmSq">{{cite web |url=http://cricket.co.za/news/25235/De-Zorzi-to-lead-SA-Emerging-Squad-in-Sri-Lanka |title=De Zorzi to lead SA Emerging Squad in Sri Lanka |work=Cricket South Africa |accessdate=19 July 2018 |archive-date=19 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233426/http://cricket.co.za/news/25235/De-Zorzi-to-lead-SA-Emerging-Squad-in-Sri-Lanka |url-status=dead }}</ref> and in September 2018, was named in [[Eastern Province (cricket team)|Eastern Province]]'s squad for the [[2018 Africa T20 Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/squad/1158614.html |title=Eastern Province Squad |work=ESPN Cricinfo |accessdate=12 September 2018}}</ref> In September 2019, he was named in the squad for the [[Nelson Mandela Bay Giants]] team for the [[2019 Mzansi Super League]] tournament.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricket.co.za/news/31555/MSL-20-announces-its-T20-squads |title=MSL 2.0 announces its T20 squads |work=Cricket South Africa |accessdate=4 September 2019 |archive-date=4 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904081427/https://cricket.co.za/news/31555/MSL-20-announces-its-T20-squads |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In April 2021, Breetzke was named in the South Africa Emerging Men's squad for their six-match tour of [[Namibia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricket.co.za/news/38167/SA-Emerging-men-to-tour-Namibia |title=SA Emerging men to tour Namibia |work=Cricket South Africa |access-date=16 April 2021 |archive-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417232410/https://cricket.co.za/news/38167/SA-Emerging-men-to-tour-Namibia |url-status=dead }}</ref> Later the same month, he was named in Eastern Province's squad, ahead of the 2021–22 cricket season in South Africa.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricket.co.za/news/38184/CSA-reveals-Division-One-squads-for-2021-22 |title=CSA reveals Division One squads for 2021/22 |work=Cricket South Africa |access-date=20 April 2021 |archive-date=20 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420104034/http://cricket.co.za/news/38184/CSA-reveals-Division-One-squads-for-2021-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== International career ==
Breetzke made his international debut in a [[Twenty20 International]] (T20I) match against [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] in September 2023. He played in two T20Is against the [[Indian cricket team in South Africa in 2023–24|touring Indians]] in December 2023, before [[South African cricket team in the West Indies in 2024|touring the West Indies]] with the South African T20I squad in May 2024.<ref name=ca>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1383/1383545/1383545.html Matthewl Breetzke], CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 February 2024. {{subscription}}</ref>

Later in 2024 he made his [[Test cricket|Test match]] debut against [[Bangladesh national cricket team|Bangladesh]], playing in the first Test of the two-match series during South Africa's tour in October. He was dismissed for a [[duck (cricket)|duck]] in his only innings of the match.<ref name=ca/>

In February 2025, Breetzke was named in the squad for the [[2024–25 Pakistan Tri-Nation Series|Tri-Series in Pakistan]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=on |first=Published |date=2025-02-05 |title=New faces in Proteas squad for Tri-Series |url=https://www.sacricketmag.com/new-faces-in-proteas-squad-for-tri-series/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=SA Cricketmag |language=en-US}}</ref> He made his [[One Day International]] debut on 10 February against [[New Zealand national cricket team|New Zealand]] during a tri-series in Pakistan ahead of the [[2025 ICC Champions Trophy]]. He scored a century on his debut,<ref>{{Cite web |title=NZ vs SA Cricket Scorecard, 2nd Match at Lahore, February 10, 2025 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/pakistan-tri-nation-series-2024-25-1442210/new-zealand-vs-south-africa-2nd-match-1442221/full-scorecard |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref> making 150 runs, setting a new record for the highest score on debut in an ODI debut, surpassing the 148 made by West Indian [[Desmond Haynes]] in 1978.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-10 |title=South Africa's Matthew Breetzke makes ODI history with debut 150 against New Zealand |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cevemzgl8e0o |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Stats - Breetzke betters Haynes, Williamson second-fastest to 7000 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/nz-vs-sa-odi-tri-series-stats-matthew-breetzke-betters-desmond-haynes-kane-williamson-gets-to-7000-1472777 |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=icc |date=2025-02-10 |title=South Africa batter creates history on ODI debut |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/south-africa-batter-creates-history-on-odi-debut |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=www.icc-cricket.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Breetzke bats his way from scratchy to sublime in ODI debut to remember |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/pakistan-tri-series-nz-vs-sa-matthew-breetzke-bats-his-way-from-scratchy-to-sublime-in-odi-debut-to-remember-1472783 |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-10 |title=Williamson spoils Breetzke's party as NZ reach tri-series final |url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/133392/new-zealand-overcome-breetzkes-historic-debut-to-qualify-for-final |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Cricbuzz |language=en}}</ref> During his second ODI on 12 February he scored 83 runs, setting a new record for the most number of runs by any batsman after their first two ODI innings.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-12 |title=3rd Match (D/N), Karachi, February 12, 2025, Pakistan Tri-Nation Series (Salman Agha 119*, Mohammad Rizwan 107*, Wiaan Mulder 2/79, SA vs PAK live score, 3rd Match, National Stadium, Karachi, February 12, 2025 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/pakistan-tri-nation-series-2024-25-1442210/pakistan-vs-south-africa-3rd-match-1442222/live-cricket-score |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

In August 2025, during the second ODI against Australia at Mackay's Great Barrier Reef Arena, Breetzke scored 88 runs off 78 balls. This innings marked his fourth consecutive fifty-plus score in ODIs since his debut, making him the first player in ODI history to achieve such a feat.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-08-22 |title=Four on the trot! Matthew Breetzke creates history, breaks Navjot Singh Sidhu's 38-year-old record |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/four-on-the-trot-matthew-breetzke-creates-history-breaks-navjot-singh-sidhus-38-year-old-record/articleshow/123451995.cms |access-date=2025-08-22 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Lemon |first=Geoff |last2=Howcroft |first2=Jonathan |last3=Lemon (now) |first3=Geoff |last4=Howcroft (earlier) |first4=Jonathan |date=2025-08-22 |title=South Africa beat Australia by 84 runs in second men's ODI to win series – as it happened |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2025/aug/22/australia-v-south-africa-second-mens-one-day-international-odi-cricket-live-scores-updates-aus-vs-sa-mackay-great-barrier-reef-arena |access-date=2025-08-22 |work=the Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> This performance surpassed the previous record held by Navjot Singh Sidhu, who had four fifties across five matches.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aug 22 |first=Fahad Hamid {{!}} Last updated |last2=Et |first2=2025 5:50 Am |date=2025-08-22 |title=Matthew Breetzke is Absolutely Breaking Cricket History (And Making Everyone Else Look Bad) |url=https://www.yardbarker.com/cricket/articles/matthew_breetzke_is_absolutely_breaking_cricket_history_and_making_everyone_else_look_bad/s1_17396_42622539 |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=Yardbarker |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Koushik |date=2025-08-22 |title=Matthew Breetzke equals 38-year-old feat during AUS vs SA 2nd ODI; first came from Indian cricketer-turned-politician |url=https://www.livemint.com/sports/cricket-news/matthew-breetzke-equals-38-year-old-feat-during-aus-vs-sa-2nd-odi-first-came-from-indias-navjot-singh-sidhu-at-1987-wc-11755855037271.html |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref>

Breetzke's consistent performances have significantly contributed to South Africa's success in the series, with the team securing an 84-run victory in the second ODI, thereby clinching the three-match series 2-1.<ref name=":0" />

In September 2025, he was named in the Proteas T20I squad for their tour of Pakistan, as well as named captain of the ODI squad in the absence of regular skipper Temba Bavuma.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{ESPNcricinfo|id=595267}}

{{Lucknow Super Giants squad}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Breetzke, Matthew}}
[[Category:1998 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:South African cricketers]]
[[Category:South Africa Twenty20 International cricketers]]
[[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]]
[[Category:Eastern Province cricketers]]
[[Category:Warriors cricketers]]
[[Category:Nelson Mandela Bay Giants cricketers]]
[[Category:Durban's Super Giants cricketers]]
[[Category:Lucknow Super Giants cricketers]]
[[Category:Northamptonshire cricketers]]
[[Category:South Africa Test cricketers]]
[[Category:South Africa One Day International cricketers]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Gqeberha]]

Matthew Breetzke - Revision history

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