‘I thought we got sufficient’: Wiaan Mulder discloses why he didn’t go for Brian Lara’s 400-run Test record | Cricket News – Times of India

Wiaan Mulder in motion for South Africa

South Africa’s stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder has defined the reasoning behind his selfless determination to declare the innings at 626/5 throughout the second Test in opposition to Zimbabwe, regardless of being inside touching distance of Brian Lara’s iconic record for the best particular person rating in an innings in Test cricket. Mulder remained unbeaten on 367 off 334 balls on the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Monday. Lara’s unbeaten 400, scored in opposition to England in 2004, nonetheless stands as the best particular person Test rating, and Mulder made it clear he had no regrets about placing his staff’s wants forward of private milestones. “First things first, I thought we got enough and we need to bowl. And secondly, Brian Lara is a legend, let’s be real. He got 401 or whatever it was against England. And for someone of that stature to keep that record is pretty special,” Mulder stated after stumps on Day 2, as quoted by AFP.“I think if I get the chance again, I’d probably do the same thing. I know speaking to the head coach Shukri Conrad, he kind of said to me as well, like, listen, let the legends keep the really big scores,” he added.

Mulder’s 367* is now the highest individual score by a South African in Test cricket, surpassing Hashim Amla’s 311, and also the highest in an away Test. He reached his triple century in just 297 balls, making it the second-fastest in Test history.

Despite the historic feat, Mulder made it clear that personal records weren’t the priority. “You never know what’s my fate or whatever you want to call it, what’s destined for me. But I think Brian Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be,” he said.