South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder has disclosed a surprising gesture of humility and sportsmanship during the recent Test match against Zimbabwe, where he ended his innings at 367 not out, choosing not to chase Brian Lara’s world record of 400 not out.
Mulder’s remarkable knock came during South Africa’s first innings in the Bulawayo Test, where the team amassed a massive total of 626/5 declared. While the cricketing world speculated about a possible record-breaking innings, Mulder shocked fans by declaring at lunch on Day 2, despite being well within reach of Lara’s legendary 400*.
Speaking after the match, Mulder revealed that he had spoken to Lara shortly before the game. The West Indies great, known for holding both the highest individual Test (400*) and first-class (501*) scores, told him candidly that he would have preferred Mulder to go for the record.
“I had a brief chat with Brian Lara before the match, and he said if I ever got the chance, I should go for it. But at that moment, I felt it was more important for the team to push for a win than chase personal milestones,” Mulder said.
The decision has been met with mixed reactions — while some fans admired his team-first approach, others expressed disappointment at a rare chance to rewrite cricketing history being passed up.
Former players and commentators have lauded Mulder’s maturity and humility, with many calling it “a rare example of selflessness in an individual-centric sport.”
Despite falling short of the record, Wiaan Mulder’s 367 will go down as one of the greatest innings in modern Test cricket*, not just for the runs scored, but for the spirit in which they were made.
