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South African batter Matthew Breetzke produced one of the more eye-catching moments of the ongoing Test series against Australia when he launched into a series of exaggerated kangaroo-style hops across the pitch after Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed during the 3rd Test at Newlands, Cape Town. The celebration drew immediate and widespread attention on social media, with the clip circulating rapidly across platforms.
The dismissal came off the bowling of off-spinner Simon Harmer towards the end of the first session on the second day of play. Labuschagne faced just five deliveries before edging to Aiden Markram at slip off the final ball of the 18th over of Australia's innings, departing for a five-ball duck. Breetzke responded by hopping energetically across the pitch in the direction of the departing batter, appearing careful to avoid stepping onto the bowling crease during his animated display.
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Breetzke's kangaroo hop steals the spotlight at Newlands
SuperSport TV shared the footage on X, and the clip quickly spread across cricket communities online, with fans reacting to the unusual and athletic nature of the celebration.
The moment arrived during what is a significant series return for Breetzke. The right-handed batter from Port Elizabeth was brought into the Proteas Test squad for this three-match series against Australia in place of Tristan Stubbs, a selection that followed a productive run in limited-overs cricket. Breetzke made his Test debut in October 2024 against Bangladesh and had last appeared in a Test as recently as June 2025 against Zimbabwe before this recall.
Breetzke's recent form and Test squad return
Breetzke's ODI numbers ahead of this series underlined why the selectors turned to him. Across 17 ODI appearances, Breetzke had accumulated 881 runs at an average of 58.73, including two centuries and six fifties, with a top score of 150. His last ODI was played on September 30, 2026, against Australia, making the transition into the Test squad a natural continuation of his engagement with the same opposition.
His limited-overs contributions against Australia have been notable in recent months. During the three-match ODI series in Australia in August 2025, he finished as South Africa's leading run-scorer with 145 runs across the series, including an 88 in the 2nd ODI at Mackay that helped the Proteas win that match by 84 runs and clinch the series 2-1. Earlier in 2025, he also struck 85 in the 2nd ODI against England at Lord's, a knock that contributed to South Africa winning by five runs and securing a bilateral ODI series in England for the first time since 1998.
