South African batsman and captain Wiaan Mulder made headlines by choosing not to break Brian Lara’s record for the highest individual score in Test cricket. During the second day of the ongoing second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, Mulder was unbeaten on 367 runs when he declared the innings closed.
Brian Lara, the West Indies cricket legend, set the highest individual score of 400 not out against England in Antigua in 2004. Mulder, who was just 33 runs short of this milestone, deliberately stopped batting out of respect for Lara’s iconic record.
At just 27 years old, Mulder has become only the second South African to score a triple century in Test cricket, following Hashim Amla. Mulder’s team declared at 626 for 5 wickets, believing they had scored enough runs to put pressure on the opponents.
Mulder explained, “First, I thought we had enough runs, and it was time to bowl. Second, Brian Lara is a legend. His 400 runs against England is a special achievement, and it deserves respect.”
Wiaan Mulder hinted that he would make a similar decision again if the opportunity arises, after consulting with coach Shukri Conrad. “Legends should hold big records,” Mulder said. “I’m not sure what my fate holds, but honoring Lara’s record felt right.”
Mulder reached 300 runs off 297 balls, marking the second-fastest triple century in Test cricket, after India’s Virender Sehwag, who scored 300 off 278 balls. The ongoing Test still has four days left, but Mulder chose to uphold the spirit of the game and honor Lara’s status.
Test Cricket’s Highest Individual Scores
- 400 not out* – Brian Lara (West Indies) vs England, Antigua 2004
- 380 – Matthew Hayden (Australia) vs Zimbabwe, Perth 2003
- 375 – Brian Lara (West Indies) vs England, Antigua 1994
- 374 – Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) vs South Africa, Colombo 2006
- 367 not out* – Wiaan Mulder (South Africa) vs Zimbabwe, Bulawayo 2025
