Proteas' Matthew Breetzke had to toil on his way to record-breaking start to ODI cricket

There is something deeply satisfying about watching a player who has had to toil before succeeding at international level.

That’s the collective feeling across the country when watching Proteas top-order batter Matthew Breetzke continue his record-breaking start to his One-Day International career.

Perhaps his success resonates so strongly because it reminds many of us to cling to the hope that, with time and perseverance, things will eventually fall into place in our own lives too.

Breetzke scored his fifth 50-plus score in as many ODI matches at Lord’s on Thursday — a feat no batter has ever achieved before in the history of the game.

However, the 26-year-old has not always had it easy. While he currently averages almost 93 in ODI cricket, his path to the top has been a long one paved with years of hard work in domestic competition.

Before earning his debut in Pakistan earlier this year, Breetzke had gone six years without a century in 50-over cricket.

He was barely 20 years old at the time of his maiden List A hundred, scored in a match against a Cape Cobras bowling attack that featured Proteas such as Rory Kleinveldt and Vernon Philander.

In domestic cricket, he piled on the runs in first-class competition and eventually earned his Test debut in Bangladesh — only to miss a straight one and be dismissed for a duck.

Moreover, his T20I career hasn’t gone according to plan either, as he was dropped after just 10 matches.

This is the journey of a player who was once earmarked as a future star, having dominated at South Africa under-19 level.

Such a journey seems to have taught Matthew Breetzke to appreciate his recent ODI success — and his cricketing career in general — a little more, despite a packed schedule that also sees him turn out for Northamptonshire in county cricket.

“(The busy schedule) does get to you sometimes, but for me, I just look at it like: I’m so grateful to be playing this sport for a living. So, I just try to take every opportunity I get and make the most of it,” Breetzke said. “It doesn't last forever, so hopefully it can keep going.”

Having recorded one century so far, Breetzke will be kicking himself for not reaching three figures at Lord’s, where he was dismissed for 85.

However, the right-hander remains hopeful that the ton will come, as the Proteas head to Southampton on Sunday in search of a 3-0 series sweep over England in the third and final ODI.

“We definitely want to make it 3-0. That will be the chat. Hopefully, I get a hundred in Southampton,” said Breetzke. “To be honest, I was bleak not to get the 100 because it would have been cool to be on the board. But it is what it is — at least we won, so happy days.”

The third and final ODI is set to get underway at 12pm SAST on tomorrow.