South Africa’s stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder left cricket fans stunned by declaring his innings at 367* – just 34 runs shy of Brian Lara’s Test record – during the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. The all-rounder, who looked destined to surpass Lara’s 400* during Day 2’s second session, instead chose to put Zimbabwe in to bat at lunch, sparking heated debate across the cricket world.
Speaking after play, Mulder revealed his dual motivation: “First, we had enough runs and needed to bowl. Second, Brian Lara is a legend – that 400 against England is special. Someone of his stature deserves to keep that record.” The 27-year-old’s decision drew mixed reactions, with stars like Dale Steyn and Tabraiz Shamsi suggesting he should have chased history.
Mulder disclosed that even coach Shukri Conrad supported his call, advising “let the legends keep the really big scores.” His unbeaten 367 now stands as the fourth-highest individual Test score, behind only Lara (400*), Matthew Hayden (380) and Mahela Jayawardene (374).
While some fans criticized the move as a missed opportunity, others praised Mulder’s sportsmanship and team-first mentality. The Proteas’ declaration at 612/4 eventually proved strategic, with Zimbabwe struggling at 141/4 by stumps on Day 2. Mulder’s extraordinary innings – featuring 42 fours and 9 sixes – nonetheless cements his place in cricket folklore, even without the record.