Why South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder declared 33 runs short of Brian Lara’s Test record

South Africa captain Wiaan Mulder declared when he was 367 not out against Zimbabwe – 33 runs short of Brian Lara’s Test record.

The Proteas stand-in skipper smashed 367 from 334 balls as South Africa reached 626-5 by lunch on day two of the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

Mulder was on course to break Lara’s record for the highest individual score in a Test innings, which he set in 2004 when he made 400 not out against England.

But Mulder decided to deprive himself a shot at one of cricket’s most iconic records following a chat with South Africa’s coaches and declared at lunch.

The 27-year-old said he made the decision partly out of respect to cricket icon Lara and also because it was in the best interest of his team.

‘First things first, I thought we’d got enough and we need to bowl,’ Mulder told South African broadcaster SuperSport.

‘And secondly Brian Lara is a legend, let’s be real. He got 400 against England and for someone of that stature to keep that record is pretty special.

‘If I get the chance again I’d probably do the same thing. I was speaking to our coach Shukri Conrad and he kind of said to me, “Listen, let the legends keep the really big scores”.

‘And you never know what my fate or whatever you want to call it, or what’s destined for me, but I think Brian Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be.’

Mulder’s belligerent 367 goes down as the fifth-highest individual score in Test cricket and the best by a South African.

After piling on over 600, South Africa bowled Zimbabwe out for 170 and had the tourists 50-1 as they enforced the follow-on.

West Indies legend Lara set the record the highest individual score in Test cricket twice, first in 1994 when he made 375 against England, and then again ten years later with his 400 not out.

Mulder is only captaining South Africa – world Test champions following their victory over Australia at Lord’s last month – due to injuries to Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj.

South African cricket writer Neil Manthorp claimed ‘old school’ head coach Conrad had decided they would only bat for four sessions regardless of what records were on the line.

‘I don’t know whether this will make it worse or better for those who think he was foolish, but it wasn’t his decision,’ Manthorp told Sky Sports.

‘The coach Shukri Conrad is very, very old school, it is his team, he calls the shots, he makes the plans, he does the tactics and the players do what he wants them to do.

‘He decided that they would bat for four sessions. If you look at the way that Mulder was accelerating, he was scoring at an astonishing rate in the last half an hour so he was obviously aware that the declaration would be made on his behalf at lunch and he was unable to get there.

‘To call it a missed opportunity or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is not really doing it justice because most of the greatest batters in the history of the game have never had such an opportunity.

‘So, I know that there will be those who will say it wouldn’t have counted the same and Lara’s was scored against England but Zimbabwe are a full ICC Test nation, Matthew Hayden had no shame in belting them to beat Brian Lara’s first world record – he made 380 over a decade ago in Perth.

‘I think that Mulder should have done it or tried at least, he could have been dismissed, but he should have been given the opportunity.

‘I think Test cricket’s morality police are probably misplaced in situations like this.’

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