Exclusive: After Quiet Start, Matthew Breetzke Targets Match-Winning Knock in Second Zimbabwe Test

Proteas batter Matthew Breetzke is hungry for big runs in Test cricket despite having had disappointing returns in the first Test match against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

Hunger for runs

Outside the Proteas Test squad that won the World Test Championship final at Lord's last month, Matthew Breetzke is the next batter up. Proteas all-format coach himself, Shukri Conrad, has emphasised on many occasions that Breetzke is the next batter up.

Heading into the two-match series against Zimbabwe, Breetzke had played only one Test and batted only once and got a good delivery first ball, losing his wicket without scoring. That was in Bangladesh.

Given a second opportunity in the first Test in Zimbabwe, Breetzke returned scores of 13 and one in South Africa's 328-run victory.

To his defence, the 26-year-old had not opened the batting in red ball cricket in a long time, a feat which may have led to his poor returns in the first Test, as Conrad assigned him the opening role alongside Tony de Zorzi in the first Test.

Despite the poor returns, in an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.co.za, the right-handed batter highlighted that he has a hunger for big runs.

"Being here in Zimbabwe, I'm pretty hungry to put in some big performances and get some big scores and a match-winning knock,"  Breetzke told SportsBoom.co.za.

"That's what I'm after, and I'm hungry to do that. So mainly I'm really looking to score some big runs."

Transitioning from T20s to Test

Breetzke has been away from home for four months, having been playing for the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League from March to May before heading to the United Kingdom to play for Northamptonshire.

Meaning, the batter has had plenty of T20 cricket heading into the Zimbabwe Test series and could have found it hard in the first Test to make the mental and physical switch from T20 cricket to Test cricket.

"It's been a busy couple of months. I haven't been at home for the last four months. I've been on the road, which has been tough," Breetzke told SportsBoom.co.za. 

"It's not always easy transitioning. I haven't played red ball cricket in a while, so I think it will just come down to my basics and the three days leading up to the game, just getting back into the basics of being nice and still and playing straight for long periods of time."

"At the end of the day, I've been doing this for the last 10 years, so it shouldn't be too hard. I think mentally it's more just being okay with not scoring for long periods of time and taking my time."

Test environment post WTC Triumph

Having joined the Test squad for the Zimbabwe series, Breetzke noticed a slight change in the confidence and the energy in the squad, a feat that the side developed following their victory over Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord's last month.

"There's a certain confidence that the guys are walking around with, which is great to see. I think Shukri did mention that we should be walking around like we're the best side in the world. And it's exciting to be a part of the team that is going forward straight after winning that championship," Breetzke told SportsBoom.co.za.

"Shukri has mentioned that it's just the start and there's lots more to come. So, hopefully we can put in some big performances and be a part of the side going forward."

Having taken a 1-0 lead in the series following the 329-run victory in the first Test, the Proteas will be looking to complete a series whitewash when the second and final Test gets underway in Bulawayo from Saturday, 6 July.