Wiaan Mulder Opens Up About Shock Declaration: 'I Wanted Lara To Hold The Record'

Arguably the most shocking declaration in cricket history happened today in Bulawayo as 34 runs away from setting an all-time record, batting on 367*, South Africa’s stand-in skipper Wiaan Mulder said ‘enough’ and declared the innings. The world record was there for the taking, particularly with Mulder batting like a dream, but the all-rounder made a stunning call that has ended up dividing the entire cricketing universe.

‘Why Wiaan?’ is the question everyone’s been asking for the past six hours, and the man himself explained after the day’s play why he made the shocking call.

“Brian Lara is a legend. He got 400 or 401 or something against England, and for someone to keep that record, it is special,” Mulder was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

“I spoke to Shuks [Shukri Conrad] - and spoke about letting the legends keep (that record). Lara, keeping that record is exactly the way it should be.”

Still, Mulder broke a ton of other records, including becoming the South African with the outright highest individual score in Test history - going past Hashim Amla’s 311* at The Oval in 2012.

“When I went past Hash's [Hashim Amla's] score, I did not notice [it at first] but it was pretty special,” he said.

Mulder further credited the time he spent in England to his development as a batter and cricketer. He played a total of 22 games for Leicestershire between 2022 and 2024, for whom he averaged 36.87 with the bat and 30.6 with the ball, taking 43 wickets.

“When I started playing for South Africa, I was nowhere near good enough. Have had the opportunity to learn from some great players [past and present]. Going to England really gave me a chance to understand what kind of batter I want to be and figure out [my weaknesses]. Lots of lessons [from my time in England],” he explained.