Why Vian Malder did not choose to break the highest test score of Brian Lara’s 400

Wiaan Mulder was on the verge of some monumental in Bulawayo. In 2-day lunch, South Africa Stand-in Captain remained unbeaten on 367. The scoreboard 626/5 was read, Zimbabwe was on ropes, and cricketing was within history. The entire cricketing fraternity waited with breath. In an innings, an untouched 400 -run untouched Brian Lara’s record was about to be violated. Nevertheless, when the players emerged after the gap, the Mulder was not one of them. Instead, he declared.

That decision surprised many. The only 34 runs separated the Mulder from Brian Lara’s all-time test record set in 2004. But he chose otherwise.

Why did Wian Mulder announce 367*?

After the stumps, talking to Sean Pollock, the Mulder explained the moment. ,You never know what is in luck for me, but Brian Lara is the same as it should be.,” He said. “I felt that we are enough by New-Ball and secondly, Brian Lara is a legend.”

,He found 400 against England – this record is very special for someone for that stature. , For the glitter, the record was of a legend and probably should always be.

The South Africa all -rounder was not just individual. It was also influenced by his coach Shukri Conrad, who had subtle restraint. ,Talking to Shuks, he said to me, ‘Okay listen, let the legends really score big,’“Mulder shared.

It is rare in modern cricket that the individual milestone should be seen separately from such a grace, especially when a global record is within the distance of touching. But the glitter, captaining his country for the first time, was not. There was a match to win and had a series to seal, and while his 367* recent memory would go down as one of the most prominent knocks, he chose Lara’s legacy to leave untouched.

South Africa later excluded Zimbabwe for 170 and applied follow-on, putting itself on another commanding victory. While one can argue that the Mulder can continue to bat easily, given that South Africa created 626 after batting in just four sessions. But the 27 -year -old made up his mind to maintain a record against Lara’s name.