South Africa captain Wiaan Mulder says 'legend' Brian Lara deserves to keep Test batting record after declaring on 367 against Zimbabwe
Updated 07/07/2025 at 18:15 GMT+1
Time will tell whether Wiaan Mulder will regret his seemingly selfless gesture in South Africa's second Test match against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. The 27-year-old was within touching distance of sporting immortality, as he edged closer to the great Brian Lara's individual batting record. However, he elected to declare South Africa's total as the captain instead.
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Wiaan Mulder passed up on the chance to surpass Brian Lara’s highest individual batting score in the second Test between South Africa and Zimbabwe, and said the West Indies great deserved to keep the record.
The feat would have been even more special for Mulder, in what was his first time captaining South Africa for the Test in Bulawayo.
Mulder was tantalisingly close to breaking Lara’s 400 not out haul playing for West Indies against England in Antigua back in 2004.
The 27-year-old was only 33 runs behind, but decided to declare instead with South Africa posting a first-innings total of 626-5.
With nearly four days left of the Test, Mulder easily had time to break Lara's record in order for it not to be detrimental to South Africa's chances of success.
Speaking at stumps after his team had taken command of the Test, Mulder said Lara deserved to remain at the top of the tree.
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"I thought we had enough and we need to bowl," Mulder said. "Secondly, Brian Lara is a legend - let’s be real. He got 401, or whatever it was, against England.
"For someone of that stature to keep that record is pretty special. I think if I get the chance again, I would probably do the same thing."
Mulder suggested South Africa coach Shukri Conrad concurred with his view.
"Speaking to Shuks, he kinda said to me as well: ‘Listen, let the legends keep the really big scores,’" Mulder said.
"You never know what’s my fate, or what is destined for me, but I think Brian Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be."
Nevertheless, Mulder’s incredible 367 runs placed him fifth in the list of individual scores and is the highest total by a South African.
Lara – widely regarded as one of the best Test batters – takes the first and third spots in this illustrious list.
The legendary West Indian also posted 375 against England back in 1994, before Australia’s Matthew Hayden overtook him in second spot by managing 380 in their Test contested with Zimbabwe in Perth nine years later.
Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene holds fourth place in the list after his total of 374 against South Africa in 2006.
Despite missing out on the overall record, Mulder reached a slew of other milestones.
He became the first male player to score a triple hundred on his debut as Test captain, and holds the highest individual score in an away Test match.
The speed at which Mulder also managed to reach 300 is also remarkable, given it came from only 297 balls.
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Only India's Virender Sehwag reached a triple century in quicker fashion after doing so from 278 balls against South Africa in 2008.
This is also only the second time that a South African had registered a Test triple century after Hashim Amla scored 311 not out against England at The Oval in 2012.
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