Proteas star Matthew Breetzke’s rise to the IPL through Wandile Gwavu’s lens

Year in, year out, South African stars break into the Indian Premier League on the back of impressive performances on the international cricket stage.

This year, Matthew Breetzke, a Gqeberha-born batter, finally broke into the IPL, roped in by the Lucknow Super Giants, joining fellow Proteas players Aiden Markram and David Miller.

This came after Breetzke’s consistent performances in the SA20 and his record-breaking 150 on his ODI debut last month in Pakistan.

However, the 26-year-old’s rise started decades ago, and no one narrates it better than the Proteas’ white-ball fielding coach, Wandile Gwavu.

From Eastern Province Under-13 in 2010, to South Africa Under-19, Gwavu was coaching Breetzke up to now at the Proteas, where their paths have crossed once again.  

“Actually, my first memory of Breetzke was when he was three years old, believe it or not. I’m friends with his brother Chad... we used to practice together at Grey High back in the day, and we went to a lot of trials together,” Gwavu told Independent Media.

“At that time, Chad used to bring his brother with his parents, and Matthew used to play around with his plastic bat.

“The one thing that stood out was how technically good he was at the age of three, surprisingly enough.

“So, that’s when we were like, ‘Jesus, at this age, this guy’s got a very good swing, and he’s quite technical’. He had a good straight bat, and that was very surprising.

“So, pretty much his whole journey I’ve been around. I’ve seen his growth, and I’ve seen how he started.

“I’ve seen how he’s become the good player that he is now, to no surprise. I was never surprised.”

Breetzke was not the only star in Gwavu’s EP Under-13 team, as the likes of Lutho Sipamla, the now Lions and Proteas fast bowler, was also around.

However, Gwavu highlighted Breetzke’s unmatched work ethic, even when things are not going his way, as one trait that set him apart from his peers.

“He’s always had the talent. Breetzke has always received opportunities in very important spots in his teams, like opening the batting, and he’s made it count,” said Gwavu.  

“It’s one thing getting the opportunity to bat, where he can show his talent, but he’s made it count, he’s managed to get the runs.

“That’s why he’s played at the highest level in international cricket.

“But for me, it’s his work ethic more than anything. He loves the game more than anything, and to an extent, I sometimes tell him that he is crazy about it.

“And I think to make it to international level sometimes and be as good as he is, you have to have that little bit of craziness about you and also about the game. 

“I remember a couple of years ago, I think it was four years ago, at the Warriors when he went through a slump where he wasn’t making a lot of runs.

“And I remember he said he wasn’t enjoying his game, but he never stopped working.”

Breetzke and his Lucknow Super Giants teammates will get their IPL campaign started on Monday, 24 March against Faf du Plessis and Tristan Stubbs’ Delhi Capitals in Visakhapatnam.