Wiaan Mulder breaks silence on weird declaration after backlash for Brian Lara

In a moment that shocked fans and earned praise across the world, South Africa’s stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder made headlines not just for his extraordinary batting but for his deep respect for one of the game’s all-time greats, Brian Lara, on Monday, July 7.

On Day 2 of the ongoing second Test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Wiaan Mulder did something very few would dare, as he gave up a chance to create history to save Brian Lara’s world record in the traditional format of the game on Monday.

Wiaan Mulder reveals why he refused to make history in Bulawayo

Batting on an unbeaten 367, just 33 runs shy of Lara’s world record 400* in Test cricket, Mulder stunned everyone by declaring the South African innings on 626 for five at lunch on Day 2. The stand-in captain has taken that call not because of the strategy, but for respect.

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Speaking about the shocking decision, Mulder admitted that he could have broken the West Indies legend’s all-time Test record, but he felt his record deserved to be kept “exactly the way it should be.” That one quote has now won millions of hearts across the world.

In a video shared by FANCODE on X, Wiann Mulder told the Proteas great Shaun Pollack, “First things first, I thought we'd got enough, and we need to bowl. And secondly, Brian Lara is a legend, let's be real. He got 400 against England, and for someone of that stature to keep that record is pretty special.”

Brian Lara's iconic 400 deserves to stay “Exactly the way it should be”: Wiaan Mulder

Mulder revealed that the South African head coach, Shukri Conrad, encouraged the idea of leaving such milestones to legends. The 27-year-old has stressed that if he ever gets the chance again, he would likely make the same call, as he feels someone of Lara’s stature keeps the record right.

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He continued. “If I get the chance again, I'd probably do the same thing. I was speaking to our coach, Shukri Conrad, and he kind of said to me, 'Listen, let the legends keep the really big scores.' And you never know what my fate, or whatever you want to call it, is, or what's destined for me, but I think Brian Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be.”

“𝙇𝙖𝙧𝙖’𝙨 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙄𝙨 𝙀𝙭𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙄𝙩 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝘽𝙚” - 𝙈𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧

From never dreaming of a double century to walking away unbeaten on 367, Wiaan Mulder’s knock was more than just runs 💫#ZIMvSA pic.twitter.com/ic5MoeEWq4

— FanCode (@FanCode) July 7, 2025

Zimbabwe fight back in Bulawayo after Wiaan Mulder saved Brian Lara’s legacy

Wiaan Mulder's declaration not only made him a hero but also set a new South African record for the highest individual score in Tests. His 367* is now the fifth-highest in the history of Test cricket.

But the biggest talking point was that Lara’s legendary 400 not out that he scored against England in Antigua in 2004 remains untouched because Mulder chose not to.

The Zimbabwe team was later bowled out for 170 and forced to follow on. By stumps, they were 51 for one in their second innings in the ongoing second Test against South Africa in Bulawayo.

Well, Zimbabwe is currently showing the fight, and their current score stands at 143/3, trailing by 313 runs against the Proteas side in the ongoing second Test in Bulawayo.