On Day Two of the second Test against Zimbabwe, South Africa’s stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder shocked many by declaring the innings while unbeaten on 367 runs, just 33 runs short of breaking Brian Lara’s legendary 400-run Test record. The decision left fans surprised and divided.
Speaking in the post-match presentation, Mulder had explained his stance: “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.”
However, in a recent interview with SuperSport, Mulder revealed that he has since spoken directly with Lara about the moment. “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 that if I’m ever in that position again, I actually go and score more than what he had,” Mulder shared.
Despite Lara’s words of encouragement, Mulder stood by his original decision and emphasized his values. “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,” he added.
With his unbeaten 367, Mulder now holds the highest individual Test score by a South African and ranks fifth on the all-time list of top Test scores globally.
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