Another Missed Opportunity for De Zorzi
Tony de Zorzi was handed a golden opportunity to prove himself at the top of South Africa’s batting order, but once again he fell short. With captain Temba Bavuma sidelined due to a hamstring injury, de Zorzi opened in the second ODI against Australia at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, Queensland.
Bavuma, who picked up the injury during South Africa’s World Test Championship (WTC) final win, was rested, giving de Zorzi a chance to strengthen his case as a long-term opener. Instead, the left-hander produced another brief stay at the crease promising but ultimately unfulfilled.
Run-a-Ball Start, But No Big Score
De Zorzi looked solid early on, scoring a run-a-ball 38 and putting together a useful stand with Matthew Breetzke. However, his innings ended when Adam Zampa dismissed him with a sharp caught-and-bowled. The dismissal extended de Zorzi’s barren run: he has now gone 10 ODI innings without crossing 50, a worrying trend for a batter once earmarked as Quinton de Kock’s successor.
From Breakout vs India to Lean Run
When de Zorzi first broke into the ODI side in March 2023 against the West Indies, he was seen as South Africa’s next big top-order prospect. That belief grew stronger during the post-World Cup series against India in December 2023, where he scored a brilliant unbeaten 119 in Gqeberha followed by a fluent 81 in Paarl. Those knocks seemed to cement his place as a future opener.
But since then, his form has tailed off. South Africa didn’t play another ODI for nearly 10 months, and when they returned, de Zorzi struggled to convert his starts. Across 10 innings since his century against India, his highest score has been 38 the innings he managed against Australia in Mackay.
Competition Heats Up for South Africa’s Top Order
De Zorzi’s inability to turn starts into substantial scores comes at a time when competition for top-order spots is growing. Ryan Rickelton and Matthew Breetzke have both emerged as serious contenders, especially with the 2027 ODI World Cup to be hosted in South Africa.
As the Proteas look to build a stable opening pair for the future, de Zorzi is running out of chances. If given another opportunity, he will need to deliver not just starts but match-defining innings to keep his name in the conversation.
