Breetzke Replaces Stubbs for Second Test Against Australia
South Africa has made a significant adjustment to its squad for the second Test against Australia, scheduled to begin this Sunday at St George’s Park. Matthew Breetzke has been brought into the group to replace Tristan Stubbs, marking the only change to the 17-man roster following the team’s 214-run defeat in the opening match at Kingsmead. Which the visitors won by 214 runs on Tuesday, the rest of the squad of 17 is as it was before Australia won the first Test at Kingsmead. Breetzke has had three Test innings with a top score of 13. St George’s Park, South Africa’s oldest Test ground, is a cathedral of cricket for them; a place that has been central to their professional and personal lives for about as long as they can remember. Which helped South Africa win by five runs, Breetzke hammered Will Jacks for a drive so straight and so violent that Stubbs had to acrobat himself out of the ball’s path, in the course of that performance. Cricket can be a cruel business sometimes.
Stubbs’ exclusion follows a prolonged period of difficulty, as he has managed only two scores of 50 or more in his last 16 completed innings. Those notable performances were a 76 against Pakistan in Rawalpindi last October and a 94 against India in Guwahati the following month. In the recent Kingsmead Test, Stubbs struggled significantly, recording scores of 32 and 1 while falling to Pat Cummins on both occasions—once caught at deep fine leg and once behind the stumps. He was caught at deep fine leg pulling Pat Cummins – part of a slide of 4/42 – and caught behind off the same bowler.
Coach Shukri Conrad acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, noting that Stubbs “unfortunately misses out.” Conversely, the inclusion of Breetzke is driven by his recent white-ball success, specifically his 106-ball 112 that secured a 67-run victory in the first ODI against Australia last month. Conrad emphasized that the “fact that his ODI form is as hot as it is gave him an inside lane” for selection.
The move carries personal weight, as both Stubbs and Breetzke are natives of the Eastern Cape and alumni of Grey High in Gqeberha. The pair have previously shared the field for South Africa, most notably in an ODI against England at Lord’s last September where they put together a 147-run partnership. Now, however, Breetzke assumes the spot previously occupied by his childhood peer. Sharing a stand of 147 off 126, they played together for Grey and batted together for South Africa against England in an ODI at Lord’s in September last year.
Further personnel changes have been confirmed regarding the wicketkeeping duties. Ryan Rickelton is set to take the gloves, a shift that leaves Kyle Verreynne, who has failed to reach a half-century in his last 11 completed innings, out of the starting XI. Rickelton has not scored a fifty in his last eight innings, but his experience opening the batting offers tactical flexibility. Conrad indicated that the team is still evaluating whether Rickelton will continue to open or slide down the order, noting, “He’s done that before.”
Additionally, Tony de Zorzi remains unavailable for the second Test due to illness. The team management is now tasked with balancing the final composition of the XI, including decisions on the fitness of Kagiso Rabada and the continued inclusion of spinners Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer. Regarding whether Breetzke has moved ahead of Marques Ackerman in the batting order, Conrad suggested patience, stating, “There’re a few things to look at before we get to the XI. We’ve had the opportunity to lick our wounds. Now we need to make sure we turn this ship in the right direction.”
