South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder made headlines earlier this week after he declared his team’s innings on 367 not out, just 33 runs shy of the iconic 400* of legendary Brian Lara.
Mulder led the Proteas for the first time in Test cricket. What followed was nothing short of historic. His unbeaten 367 not only became the highest individual score by a South African in Tests, surpassing Hashim Amla’s legendary 311*, but also pushed the Proteas into a dominant position.
Respecting the Greats
When Mulder called for the declaration, many assumed he might have misread the situation. After all, the coveted 400 was within touching distance. But soon after, he clarified that the decision was intentional.
“Brian Lara is a legend. For someone to keep that record, it is special,” Mulder said.
“I spoke to Shuks (Shukri Conrad), and we agreed on letting the legends keep that. Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be.”
In a sport where personal milestones often overshadow team goals, Mulder’s humility stood out like a cover drive on a slow day.
The Gayle Reaction and the Lara Response
Naturally, not everyone saw it the same way. Former cricketers, including West Indies powerhouse Chris Gayle, didn’t hold back. Gayle called the declaration a “blunder” and said Mulder had “panicked”.
But then came the voice that mattered most, Brian Charles Lara himself. Once the dust had settled, Mulder revealed a quiet moment that changed everything, a conversation with Lara.
“He said to me I’m creating my own legacy and I should have gone for it,” Mulder shared.
“He said records are there to be broken and he wishes if I’m ever in that position again, I actually go and score more than what he had.”
Talk about grace meeting greatness. Even Lara, whose record had just been protected, showed nothing but encouragement and class.
Legacy Over Landmarks
Wiaan Mulder could’ve had his name at the top of the list. But he chose to honour the game and the legends who came before him. That’s rare. And in doing so, he’s carved out a legacy that isn’t defined by numbers, but by values.
“That was an interesting point of view from his side, but I still believe I did the right thing,” Mulder added. “Respecting the game is the most important part for me.”
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