Despite a blockbuster debut as South Africa Test captain, Wiaan Mulder completed a thumping victory against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo with perhaps as many questions and plaudits after declaring the innings while batting on a mammoth 367 not out in the first innings.
After storming to an unbeaten 264 on the opening day of the Test after being named the stand-in captain for Temba Bavuma’s deputy, Keshav Maharaj, Mulder shattered multiple world records with his performance. The marathon innings laced with 53 boundaries was the highest-ever Test score by a Proteas batter and the fifth-highest ever. Anticipation was building towards a potential world record-breaking moment post Lunch on Day 2 as Mulder stood only 34 runs away from surpassing Brian Lara’s 400 not out, still the only quadruple Test century, against England in 2004.
Several former cricketers and experts lamented Mulder’s decision to declare the innings before the resumption in play as South Africa eventually went onto complete a comfortable innings and 236-run victory within three days. The 27-year-old Mulder later revealed that Lara had told him that he should have shot for the summit when presented with the chance.
“Now that things have settled a little bit, I’ve chatted a little bit to Brian Lara…He said to me I’m creating my own legacy and I should have gone for it. He said records are there to be broken and he wishes if I’m ever in that position again, I actually go and score more than what he had,” Mulder told SuperSport.
“That was an interesting point of view from his side, but I still believe I did the right thing and respecting the game is the most important part for me,” Mulder added.
Talking about his decision to declare on 367, Mulder had said that he had committed to it out of respect for Lara’s stature in the game.
“Firstly, I thought we had enough and we needed to bowl. Secondly, Brian Lara is a legend. For someone of that stature to keep that record is deserved. If I get the chance to do it again, I’d do it exactly the same way,” Mulder had said in a post-match interaction.
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Lara’s former West Indies teammate Chris Gayle also lamented Mulder’s declaration.
He panicked and he blundered, straight up,” Gayle said, speaking on talkSPORT. “I think it was an error from his side, not to try and go to get it. We don’t know if he would go on and get it or not. But he declared on 367, and he said what he had to say. But listen, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get 400 runs in a Test match. Come on, youngster, you’ve blown it big time!”
