South Africa's Matthew Breetzke has wasted no time in making his mark on the international stage. Since his debut earlier this year, the 26-year-old has scored runs with remarkable consistency.
From a record-breaking debut to strong batting against top sides, Breetzke has displayed both composure and flair that suggest he belongs at this level.
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Matthew Breetzke breaks Navjot Singh Sidhu's 38-year-old ODI record
In the ongoing series against Australia, Breetzke scored his fourth consecutive fifty-plus score - becoming the first-ever player in history to achieve the feat in his first four ODI innings.
By doing so, he surpassed India's Navjot Singh Sidhu, who had registered four fifties in his first four innings but did not bat in his third ODI back in 1987.
Breetzke's innings so far:
- 150 vs New Zealand
- 83 vs Pakistan
- 57 vs Australia
- 88 vs Australia
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Most consecutive 50+ scores to start ODI career
Breetzke and Sidhu now share this rare achievement alongside a few others who made a blazing start to their ODI journeys. Let's take a look at the full list below:
- Matthew Breetzke (South Africa) – 150, 83, 57, 88
- Navjot Singh Sidhu* (India) – 73, 75, 51, 55 (DNB in 3rd match)
- Max O’Dowd (Netherlands) – 86*, 59, 82
- Tom Cooper (Netherlands) – 80*, 87, 67
* Sidhu's run was during the 1987 World Cup with scores of 73, 75, 51 and 55. However, his streak included one match where he didn't bat - which is why Breetzke now stands alone with the most consecutive 50+ scores to start an ODI career.