Chandigarh, July 7: South Africa’s stand-in Test captain Wiaan Mulder etched his name in cricketing history on Monday — not for breaking a record, but for choosing not to. Despite being unbeaten on a stunning 367 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Mulder made the selfless decision to declare South Africa’s innings at 626/5, putting team strategy ahead of personal glory.
In doing so, the 27-year-old all-rounder passed Hashim Amla’s 311* to set the new highest individual score by a South African in Test cricket. Mulder also now holds the record for the highest individual score by a batter in an away Test match, surpassing Hanif Mohammad’s 337 made against the West Indies in 1958. But his choice to step back from surpassing Brian Lara’s iconic 400* — the highest-ever individual score in Test history — has drawn admiration across the cricketing world.
“I felt it was the right moment to press on as a team,” Mulder said after the declaration. “Records are special, but Test wins mean more.”
Mulder’s innings was a masterclass in dominance. Facing 334 deliveries, he struck 49 fours and 4 sixes, dismantling the Zimbabwean attack with relentless precision. His aggressive approach saw him bring up the second-fastest triple century in Test history — off just 297 balls. Only Virender Sehwag (278 balls) reached the milestone faster, against South Africa in Chennai.
Mulder’s form in the second Test comes on the heels of a century in the series opener and a 147-run knock in the second innings, making his aggregate of 514 runs the highest ever by a South African batter in a single Test — overtaking Graeme Smith’s 362 (277 and 85) against England in 2003.
The series marks a strong comeback for Mulder, who had struggled with the bat in the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s — a match South Africa ultimately won. With Temba Bavuma sidelined due to injury and key players like Kagiso Rabada and Aiden Markram rested, Mulder has stepped into the captaincy role with poise and power.
“He’s rewritten history — not just with his bat, but with his mindset,” said a Cricket South Africa (CSA) official. “That’s the mark of a true leader.”
While Brian Lara’s 400* remains untouched, Wiaan Mulder’s 367* stands as a modern-day epic — a testament not just to talent, but to character.
