Breetzke replacing Stubbs is a big gamble because South Africa swapped a struggling middle-order regular for a batter with only 14 Test runs. Stubbs went after scores of 32 and 1 in the 214-run defeat at Durban, and Breetzke steps in at No. 5 for the second Test in Gqeberha. His ODI form is excellent, yet his Test record is thin, and Australia’s seamers are waiting. If the risk backfires, the three-match contest could slip away early, and the selectors will carry the blame.
Form Slump Behind the Durban Axe
Stubbs scored 32 and 1 at Durban, and both dismissals were self-inflicted, a poor pull in one innings and a loose drive in the other. Eleven times in his last 17 innings he has failed to reach double figures, a run that no middle-order batter can sustain at this level. His career average sits just above 30 across 15 Tests, even though he made 94 versus India in November 2025.
The 32 came off 66 balls and helped add 56 for the fifth wicket with Wiaan Mulder, so it was not a failure of effort. Selectors admitted the decision was harsh, but the figures in the table below make the case against him fairly well. A slump of this length leaves little room for sentiment when a rival has been scoring heavily elsewhere.
SA vs AUS 2026 Test series: Breetzke vs Stubbs
Nobody else in the squad changed, though Ryan Rickelton also takes the gloves from Kyle Verreynne. Debutant Marques Ackerman, aged 30, opens alongside Aiden Markram, with Breetzke at No. 5 behind him. In that sense, the opening pair carries its own risk, as Ackerman is a newcomer too.
Showers halted the second Test on its opening day, leaving South Africa on 20 for 2 from 12.2 overs. Scott Boland removed Markram for 11 and Bedingham for a duck with successive deliveries, so Breetzke is still waiting for his first look at the Australian attack. Another day of waiting only adds to the pressure.
Batter | Tests Played | Runs | Average | Recent Form | Role in Batting Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Matthew Breetzke | 2 | 14 | 4.67 | 112 off 106 in Durban ODI | Batting at No. 5, picked for Gqeberha |
Tristan Stubbs | 15 | 792 | 30.46 | 32 and 1 in Durban Test | Middle-order batter, dropped for Gqeberha |
ODI Form Against a Thin Record
Breetzke hit 112 from 106 deliveries at No. 4 in the opening Durban ODI, and he ended that series with 171 runs at an average of 57. Coach Shukri Conrad described that form as giving Breetzke an inside track. It is a fair reward for runs scored, though they came in a different format against a different ball.
His Test record starts with a duck on debut against Bangladesh, and then as an opener in Zimbabwe he managed 13 and 1, which makes 14 runs from three innings. His first-class numbers are stronger, with 3,852 runs at an average of 37.03, including 10 hundreds in 64 matches. Those figures suggest talent, but they do not tell us how he will handle Test-level pace.
Australia’s Seam Attack Awaits
Breetzke has never faced Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood or Lyon in a Test. Australia go all-seam by dropping Lyon, and Steve Smith has described the pitch as greener than it looked a few days earlier. Hazlewood’s career-best 6 for 49 came in Durban, so confidence in the pace group is high.
Since Covid, the Gqeberha surface has helped spinners, who have 40 wickets at 22.77 while pace bowlers have 35 at 34.17. Even so, Breetzke could meet seam bowling from the very first over, and that is where a batter with few Test runs is most exposed.
Stakes for the Rest of the Contest
A 1-0 lead puts Australia within one win of taking the three-match contest, since a second South African defeat would settle it with a game to spare. They top the World Test Championship table on 81.82 percent, while South Africa sit third on 60. Failure for Breetzke would therefore echo well beyond his own average.
Everything now rests on an innings or two. If Breetzke settles, the SA vs AUS 2026 Test series Breetzke vs Stubbs call will look bold and sensible. If he falls cheaply to the new ball, it will look like a selection too far at the worst possible moment.
Do you back Breetzke at No. 5, or should South Africa have stuck with Stubbs? Tell us in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why did South Africa leave out Tristan Stubbs?
Stubbs was dropped because of poor form, including scores of 32 and 1 in the Durban loss. Across his last 17 Test innings, he has failed to reach ten on 11 occasions.
Will Matthew Breetzke bat at No 5 in Gqeberha?
Yes, Breetzke is set to bat at No. 5 in the second Test. He has not faced a ball yet, because rain ended day one with South Africa on 20 for 2.
What is Breetzke’s record in Test cricket?
Breetzke has scored 14 runs in two Tests, an average of 4.67. His first-class average is a healthier 37.03, and it includes 10 hundreds, so the gap between formats is large.
Who won the first Test in Durban?
Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs. Renshaw’s 190 and Hazlewood’s 6 for 49 set up the result, while Stubbs managed only 32 and 1 for the hosts.
When does play start in the second Test at Gqeberha?
Play begins at 10:00 local time at St George’s Park, from 18 to 22 October. That is 13:30 in India and 14:00 in Bangladesh, and up to 30 extra minutes can be added each day.