South African captain Wiaan Mulder made headlines on Monday after choosing to declare his innings at 367 not out, deliberately stopping short of breaking Brian Lara’s all-time highest individual Test score.
Mulder’s decision came during the second Test match against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club. South Africa declared their first innings at 626 for five. It was more than enough. Zimbabwe collapsed for 170 and, after being asked to follow on, were 51 for one at stumps.
But it was Mulder’s choice to walk away from a possible world record that drew the most attention.
“Brian Lara is a legend,” Mulder said after the day’s play. “He got 401 or whatever it was against England. For someone of that stature to keep the record is pretty special.”
Asked whether he’d make the same call again, Mulder didn’t hesitate. “I think if I get the chance again I would do the same again.”
Mulder had spoken with South Africa’s head coach, Shukri Conrad, before the declaration. Conrad backed the move. “He said to me as well, let the legend keep the record,” Mulder explained. “I never know what my fate will be but letting Brian Lara keep the record is the way it should be.”
The innings still made history. Mulder became only the second South African to score a triple century in Test cricket, surpassing Hashim Amla’s 311 not out with a pair of boundaries off Blessing Muzarabani.
He reached 300 from 297 balls — the second-fastest triple century in Test history, just behind Virender Sehwag’s 278-ball effort in 2008.
By the end of the innings, Mulder had faced 334 balls, hitting 49 fours and four sixes.
“I’ve never even dreamed of getting a double hundred, let alone a triple hundred,” he said. “When I started playing for South Africa I was nowhere near good enough. But it gave me the opportunity to learn from great players.”
Mulder credited his growth to domestic experience and time in county cricket with Leicestershire. He mentioned the difficult conditions at Johannesburg’s Wanderers ground and the technical improvements he made while playing in England.
He also noted the influence of Justin Sammons, Zimbabwe’s current coach, who once worked with him in South Africa, especially on facing short-pitched deliveries.
One of the more personal revelations from Mulder was his use of music to stay focused. He admitted he sings to himself between deliveries — something former England captain Mike Brearley also did.
While Brearley preferred classical music, Mulder said he turned to Afrikaans music during his century in Bangladesh last year. This time, he sang “Zombie” by The Cranberries — a song that has taken on new meaning among South African sports fans since the Springboks’ 2023 Rugby World Cup win.
“It was sung at Lord’s to Shuks,” Mulder said, referring to coach Conrad and the World Test Championship final victory over Australia.
While South Africa’s dominance in this match was never in doubt, the story will likely be remembered more for a gesture of humility.
Mulder could have gone for the record. But he didn’t.
