Cricket divided as South African declares before Brian Lara record
Mulder said respect for Lara convinced him to declare 33 runs short of the West Indies icon's world Test record of 400 runs as South Africa blew Zimbabwe off the park at Queens Sports Club on Monday night.
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Mulder hammered an unbeaten 367 — a South African record and the fifth highest score in Test cricket — before declaring at lunch on the second day of the second Test.
Only Lara, Matthew Hayden (380 vs Zimbabwe in 2003), Lara again (375 vs England in 1994) and Mahela Jayawardene (374 vs South Africa in 2006) have scored more runs in an innings.
South Africa's total of 626 for five proved way beyond Zimbabwe's reach. They were bowled out for 170 and were 51 for one in their second innings after being forced to follow on.
'Brian Lara is a legend. He got 401 or whatever it was against England. For someone of that stature to keep the record is pretty special,' Mulder said at the end of the day's play.
'I think if I get the chance again I would do the same again.'
Mulder spoke to South African coach Shukri Conrad who agreed with his decision.
'He said to me as well, let the legend keep the record. I never know what my fate will be but letting Brian Lara keep the record is the way it should be.'
Cricket commentators have been left divided with some suggesting it was disrespectful not to chase the milestone.
Many, however, have compared it with Aussie legend Mark Taylor declaring when he was 334 not out against Pakistan in 1998. The score equalled Sir Donald Bradman's record test innings score.
South African legend Dale Steyn wrote on X Mulder 'deserved' to reach 400.
Leading cricketer journalist for The Sun John Etheridge wrote on X: 'So he declared at lunch with 367 not out. That's impressively selfless'.
One popular cricket fan profile on X posted: 'Massive respect to captain Wiaan Mulder.
'Not many would have done this in Cricket.'
Cricket statistician Mohandras Menon posted: 'Wiaan Mulder has done a Mark Taylor.
'He has declared the South African innings, and he is just 33 runs short of Brian Lara's 400!
Selfless act.'
Other commentators, however, said the declaration was disrespectful.
The potential score of 400 would have also caused plenty of debate because the score was achieved against a struggling Zimbabwean team.
Hayden is the only other batsman to reach 300 against Zimbabwe.
One popular cricket fan wrote on X: 'Jesus, imagine a 100m sprinter at the Olympics slowing down when about to break the WR record because 'Usain Bolt is a legend'.
'Such a ridiculous reason to not pursue the 400.
Mulder took two wickets and held a catch at slip as Zimbabwe crumbled in reply. Sean Williams, who was only allowed to bat after five wickets had fallen because of time spent off the field because of illness, slammed 83 not out off 55 balls in Zimbabwe's only innings of substance.
Resuming on 264 not out, Mulder became the second South African triple centurion, reaching the mark off 297 balls — the second-fastest behind India's Virender Sehwag, who took 278 deliveries against South Africa in Chennai in 2007/08.
Mulder went past the previous highest South African individual score of 311 not out by Hashim Amla against England at The Oval in London in 2012 with successive boundaries off fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani.
Mulder faced 334 balls and hit 49 fours and four sixes off an increasingly dispirited and largely toothless Zimbabwe bowling attack.
'I've never even dreamed of getting a double hundred, let alone a triple hundred,' said Mulder.
'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 said playing English county cricket for Leicestershire as well as batting in domestic cricket on the notoriously tricky Wanderers pitch in Johannesburg had helped him hone his game.
'Going to England gave me a chance to understand what kind of batter I wanted to be and to figure out some technical things.'
He also said current Zimbabwe coach Justin Sammons had played a big role while he was coaching in South Africa, particularly in playing the short ball.
Like former England captain Mike Brearley, Mulder said he sung to himself between balls, 'keeping myself natural, keeping myself present.'
Whereas Brearley hummed classical music, Mulder said Afrikaans music helped him reach his first Test century in Bangladesh last year, while in Bulawayo he opted for Zombie by the Cranberries.
Zombie was sung by Irish rugby supporters at the 2023 Rugby World Cup and adapted by South African rugby fans after the Springboks won the World Cup in a homage to coach Rassie Erasmus and was used for Conrad at the World Test Championship final won by South Africa against Australia last month.
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