Wiaan Mulder's Remarkable Innings: A Testament to Team Spirit
Wiaan Mulder's Historic Performance
Wiaan Mulder stunned the cricket world with an extraordinary innings of 367* during the second Test against Zimbabwe, but he made headlines for another reason—he chose not to chase Brian Lara's iconic record of 400 runs. The acting captain of South Africa shared that head coach Shukri Conrad advised him during the lunch break on Day 2 to prioritize team goals over personal achievements. 'Let the legends keep the really big scores,' Conrad told him, prompting Mulder to declare at 626/5, just 33 runs shy of rewriting history.
Starting Day 2 at 264*, Mulder reached his triple century in just 297 balls, marking the second-fastest in Test history, following Virender Sehwag. He accelerated to 367* in only 37 additional deliveries, hitting 49 fours and 4 sixes. Despite the opportunity to surpass Lara's record, Mulder adhered to the team's strategy.
In an interview with broadcaster SuperSport, Mulder reflected, 'I was speaking to Shuks, and he mentioned, “Let the legends keep the really big scores.” You never know what my fate is or what is destined for me. But Brian Lara keeping that record is exactly how it should be.'
He added, 'Initially, I thought we had enough runs and needed to focus on bowling. Brian Lara is a legend; he scored 400 against England, and it's special for someone of his stature to hold that record. If I get another chance, I would likely make the same choice.'
His decision proved beneficial as he quickly made an impact with the ball, claiming two wickets in consecutive overs and executing a sharp catch, which helped dismiss Zimbabwe for 170 runs. South Africa maintained the follow-on, ending the day with a commanding 405-run lead at 51/1.
Interestingly, Mulder revealed that to stay mentally engaged throughout his lengthy innings, he kept playing 'Zombie' by The Cranberries in his mind, a technique that helped him maintain his rhythm at the crease. While Lara's 400* remains intact, Mulder's selflessness and all-around performance contributed to one of the most remarkable displays in recent Test history.