Wiaan Mulder living the dream at No 3 after his career-best 147 sets up the Proteas for big win
Image: BackpagePix
Proteas allrounder Wiaan Mulder is looking forward to an extended stay at No 3 after striking a career-best 147 in the first Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.
There has been plenty of consternation about the 27-year-old occupying the crucial first-drop position, especially in the recent World Test Championship Final against Australia at Lord's.
Mulder had previously batted in the middle-order for both his domestic team, the Lions, and the Proteas, having scored his maiden Test century from No 7 last year against Bangladesh.
However, the former St Stithians prodigy suffered a finger injury in the first Test against Sri Lanka last year, which forced Mulder to move up the order to No 3 as a stop-gap measure in the second innings.
Never one to miss an opportunity, Proteas coach Shukri Conrad seized on the chance to bring in a seam-bowling allrounder - in the mould of the legendary Jacques Kallis - into the top six batting unit, and has run with Mulder there ever since.
Conrad was further buoyed by Mulder's application against the much-vaunted Australian attack in the second innings and Lord's with his tactics reaping dividends at the Queens Sports Club.
Mulder claimed 4/50 with the ball in Zimbabwe's first innings to complement his century.
'I think Shuks has had this view (batting at No 3) since I broke my finger that that's where our best balanced team or most balanced team is and I think the important thing is when the three big quicks come back, my role as a bowler gets a lot less or my responsibility as a bowler,' Mulder said.
'To be honest, wherever I fit in in the South African team is where I want to play.
'It's been my dream as a kid, still my dream consistently to play for South Africa. For me, it's the pinnacle and that's what I'll try and do as long as I can.
'And if that means batting at No 3, then I'm going to do my best to stay in the team and batting at 3.
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