Wiaan Mulder lit up the cricketing world with a massive unbeaten 367 in the second Test against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo.
But while his name entered the record books, it also left fans debating one question: Why didn’t he try to reach 400?
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The innings became the highest-ever Test score by a South African. Yet, just 33 runs shy of the all-time record held by Brian Lara, Mulder decided to declare the innings instead of chasing history.
'Should have tried to break the record': Brian Lara about Mulder’s declaration
Brian Lara, who scored an iconic 400 not out against England in 2004, encouraged Mulder to break the record. Speaking after the match, Mulder revealed that Lara reached out to him and expressed surprise over the decision.
"Brian Lara told me that I should have tried to break the record," Mulder said, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.
"He said to me I'm creating my own legacy and I should have gone for it. He said records are there to be broken and he wishes if I'm ever in that position again, I actually go and score more than what he had," he added.
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At lunch on Day 2, South Africa were in complete control. Mulder was on 367 not out and Zimbabwe were clearly under pressure. But rather than continue chasing a personal milestone, he declared to give South Africa’s bowlers more time to bowl out the opposition.
Despite Lara’s words, Mulder stood by his call to declare. He explained that he felt it was more important to respect the game and think about the team first.
"That was an interesting point of view from his side, but I still believe I did the right thing and respecting the game is the most important part for me," he noted.
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How significant is Mulder’s 367 in Test history?
Even though he didn’t reach 400, Mulder’s knock still made history. Here’s how it stacks up:
- 5th highest individual score in men’s Test cricket
- Highest ever by a South African batter
- Most boundaries in a Test innings since 2006- 49 fours and 4 sixes
- The biggest Test score since Mahela Jayawardene’s 374 in 2006
He also surpassed South African legends like Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith on the all-time highest Test scores list.