Exclusive: Matthew Breetzke Determined to Turn ODI Form Into T20 World Cup Selection

Proteas batter Matthew Breetzke has his sights on securing a spot in South Africa’s ICC T20 World Cup squad and aims to use his run in One Day International cricket as the Proteas tour England for a white ball series.

Making the World Cup squad

When Breetzke broke into the national team, he was the up-and-coming opening batter in the T20I team, with the 26-year-old receiving call-ups in Test and One Day International cricket at a later stage.

However, the right-handed batter did not steal the show in the shortest and longest formats of the game. As a result, the batter is no longer in the T20I squad.

In One Day International cricket, however, the 26-year-old has taken the world by storm, scoring 150 on debut, the highest individual score in the history of 50-over cricket.

The top-order batter has batted three times since his ODI debut and has gone on to register fifty-plus scores in each innings as he helped South Africa win a series Down Under last month.

Currently, the top-order batter averages 95 in 50-over cricket and has a chance to continue his rich vein of form in England, where the Proteas are currently touring.

Despite having been left out of the T20I squad, and given that the T20 World Cup is early next year, the 26-year-old told SportsBoom.co.za that he has his sights on making that squad.

“To be honest, I definitely want to be in that T20 side in that World Cup. So, I'll be working really hard to get on that plane to that World Cup,” Breetzke told SportsBoom.co.za in an exclusive interview.

“But, I haven't had too many conversations with Shuks about it. One Day International cricket has obviously just been the main focus of the ODI cricket at the moment."

“Look, hopefully I can continue to do well on the ODI side and get a crack in the T20s. So, I'll just have to keep putting in performances and hopefully, you know, things go my way and I can win some games and get into that side.”

Playing in the UK

Breetzke has been playing for Northamptonshire County Cricket Club for a number of seasons, meaning he has all the experience he needs to take on England in their own backyard.

Despite all his experience of the conditions in the United Kingdom, the batter acknowledges that international cricket will be a different ball game in relation to his county experience.

“I love playing in the UK. The crowds are really good, and a lot of the time the wickets are really good. I’m really looking forward to it, obviously now it’s at a different stage, the international stage,” said Breetzke.

“That’s even more exciting, so I’m really looking forward to it and to playing at some really cool grounds, experiencing the crowds, and us getting one over England."

The Impressive Start

In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.co.za, the stylish batter expressed gratitude for the impressive start to his ODI career.

“Look, it's obviously been a really good start to my ODI cricket career so far, and I'm just obviously really grateful that I've gotten the opportunities that I have and played on some really good wickets,” Breetzke told SportsBoom.co.za.  

“I feel like my game has been in good order for the last two years, so I just really hope that it will continue and continue to put in match-winning performances.”