Wiaan Mulder Chooses Respect Over Records, Stops on 367 to Honour Brian Lara

Reaching the magical 400-run mark in Test cricket requires a rare blend of talent, patience, time, and opportunity. South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder had all of these. Yet, when he stood unbeaten on 367, he chose to stop voluntarily—out of respect for a legend: Brian Charles Lara.

Against Zimbabwe in the second Test, the 27-year-old right-hander was unstoppable with the bat. He scored 147 in the first innings and an unbeaten 367 in the second. With the team score at 626 for 5, South Africa declared their innings immediately after the lunch break—leaving Mulder just 33 runs short of the biggest individual score in Test history.

Mulder explained his decision:

"The record should remain Lara’s. He is an icon of cricket history. I grew up watching him bat. I stopped out of respect for him."

His choice was fully supported by South Africa’s head coach, Shukri Conrad. The coach reportedly told him:

"Not every record needs to be broken. Some records look better when they belong to legends."

Mulder’s 367 now stands as the fifth-highest individual score in Test cricket, and the highest ever by a South African. Previously, the only South African triple-century was Hashim Amla’s unbeaten 311 against England in 2012.

The innings itself had drama. On 247, Mulder was bowled by Tanaka Chivanga—but replays showed it was a no-ball. Given that reprieve, he settled in like an ancient banyan tree, anchoring one end and providing shelter for his teammates.

Brian Lara’s iconic 400* came in 2004, surpassing his own previous record of 375. Although Matthew Hayden briefly broke his record, Lara reclaimed it, leaving it untouched for years. Mulder deliberately chose not to chase it, wanting the milestone to remain with Lara.

There was time—four full days of the Test remained—and the situation allowed for it. But Mulder didn’t want to put his team at risk for personal glory.

He may not have taken the record, but with his deep respect for the game, understanding of leadership, and selfless decision, Wiaan Mulder secured his own place in cricket’s history.

Cricket is more than just numbers; it is the character of its players that defines its legacy—and Wiaan Mulder has now written his own remarkable chapter.