South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder has opened up about his bold decision to declare the innings at 367 not out—just 34 runs away from surpassing Brian Lara’s legendary 400* in Test cricket.
Mulder explained that the decision was guided by strategy and respect: “I felt we had enough runs on the board and needed to focus on bowling. And to be honest, Brian Lara is an icon of the game. He scored 400 against England—how can you not respect that?”
Looking back, Mulder expressed no remorse over the missed milestone, saying some records are meant to remain untouched. “It’s pretty special for someone of Lara’s stature to hold on to that record. If I find myself in that position again, I might still make the same call,” he noted.
He also shared insights from a conversation with head coach Shukri Conrad. “When I spoke to Shuks, he said something that stayed with me: ‘Let the legends keep those monumental scores,’” Mulder recalled.
Ending on a reflective note, Mulder said, “Who knows what’s written in my destiny? But honestly, Brian Lara holding that record feels just right.”