South Africa stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder revealed why he didn’t go after breaking Brian Lara’s record of the highest individual score in Tests. The right-handed batter was on the cusp of making the milestone his own as he was batting on 367 not out at the lunch break on Day 2 of the second Test against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo. However, he decided to declare the innings and have a crack at the hosts in the second session.
Speaking after stumps on Day 2, Mulder said Brian Lara is a legend and deserves to keep that record. The 27-year-old South African all-rounder was batting like a dream, and it seemed like he would break the record within the first few minutes of the second session.
However, against the run of play, he decided to declare. This decision not to bat further polarised opinion on social media. The likes of Dale Steyn and Tabraiz Shamsi also reckoned that Mulder could have batted on and gone after the record.
“First things first, I thought we got enough and we need to bowl. And secondly, Brian Lara is a legend, let’s be real. He got 401 or whatever it was against England. And for someone of that stature to keep that record is pretty special. I think if I get the chance again, I’d probably do the same thing. I know speaking to the head coach Shukri Conrad, he kind of said to me as well, like, listen, let the legends keep the really big scores,” Mulder told SuperSport after stumps on Day 2.
“And you never know what’s my fate or whatever you want to call it, what’s destined for me. But I think Brian Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be,” he added.
Mulder’s knock included 49 fours and 4 sixes, as he batted at a strike rate of 109.88. He stayed at the crease for 334 balls. He decided to call time on South Africa’s innings when the score read 625/6.
