BULAWAYO, July 8 – South Africa Test captain Wiaan Mulder has drawn praise and sparked reflection across the cricketing world after declaring his innings at 367, choosing not to surpass Brian Lara’s legendary 400 not out in a rare display of humility and team-first leadership.
The decision came during South Africa’s dominant display against Zimbabwe, as the Proteas posted 626 for five declared in Bulawayo. Mulder’s 367-run knock is now the fifth-highest individual score in Test history, surpassing Garry Sobers’ iconic 365* but sitting behind Lara (400), Hayden (380), Jayawardene (374)* and Lara’s 375.
‘Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be’
Speaking after the match, Mulder clarified that the declaration was deliberate. “Brian Lara is a legend… For someone to keep that record, it is special. I spoke to [head coach] Shuks about letting the legends keep that. Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be,” said Mulder.
Despite being within 33 runs of a world record, Mulder said he had “never even dreamt of a double hundred, let alone a triple”, adding that putting the team in a dominant position was his primary motivation.
His tactical timing was immediately vindicated when South African bowler Codi Yusuf dismissed Zimbabwe’s Kaitano with the very first ball of their innings. Zimbabwe were bundled out for 170, with Mulder himself contributing 2 wickets for 20 runs in his spell.
A masterclass in control and leadership
Mulder’s monumental knock is now South Africa’s highest-ever Test score, overtaking Hashim Amla’s 311 not out against England in 2012. Coach Shukri Conrad praised the innings as “nothing short of extraordinary”, particularly because Mulder batted at number three and absorbed early pressure with exceptional control and temperament.
“Session by session, he built that innings. It was a lesson in patience and precision,” Conrad said. “It wasn’t just a statistical achievement – it was the heartbeat of our innings.”
A performance for the ages
Enoch Nkwe, Cricket South Africa’s Director of National Teams and High Performance, hailed the innings as “a world-class performance that will be remembered for generations,” noting that Mulder’s choice to stop short of a record “elevates both the player and the sport.”
The innings has added a new layer to cricket’s historical tapestry – not just for its size, but for the selfless decision to honour a legend like Brian Lara, who scored 400* against England in 2004 and remains Test cricket’s only quadruple centurion.