SOUTH AFRICAN skipper Wiaan Mulder produced one of sport’s most selfless gestures and denied himself the world record Test score.
Mulder was 367 not out at lunch in the Second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo and looked certain to overtake Brian Lara’s legendary figure of 400 not out.
AlamyWiaan Mulder performed his selfless act during his first Test as South Africa captain[/caption]
But he decided to call a halt to his team’s innings and declare with the Proteas having piled up a mammoth 626-5.
It is his first Test as captain of the current world Test champions.
Mulder now sits fifth on the all-time list of Test scores.
History will look favourably on his refusal to snatch the record from an all-time great while playing against a weak Zimbabwe team.
Mulder’s triple century came off 297 balls, making it the second-fastest in Test history and behind only Indian Virender Sehwag’s 278-ball effort against South Africa in Chennai in 2008.
Mulder’s act echoes a declaration by former Aussie skipper Mark Taylor when he had scored 334 not out against Pakistan in 1998.
Taylor did not want to go past Sir Donald Bradman’s highest score for Australia so he was happy to equal it.
Bradman is an Aussie icon and regarded as the greatest batsman of all time although Matthew Hayden subsequently broke his record.
AlamyMulder seemed nailed on to break Lara’s record against Zimbabwe, but declared early to leave it intact[/caption]
PACricket legend Brian Lara held on to his record, and is currently enjoying this year’s Wimbledon tournament[/caption]
Lara has twice held the record with monumental innings against England.
He first made 375 against England in 1994 only for Hayden to score 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003.
Lara promptly recaptured the record the following year with 400 not out against England in Antigua.
Top 10 most runs in an test innings
Brian Lara dominates the top three, with Mulder settling for fifth place
1. Brian Lara – 400 vs England 2004
2. Matthew Hayden – 380 vs Zimbabwe 2003
3. Brian Lara – 375 vs England 1994
4. Mahela Jawardene – 374 vs South Africa 2006
5. Wiaan Mulder – 367 vs Zimbabwe 2025
6. Garry Sobers – 365 vs Pakistan 1958
7. Leonard Hutton – 364 vs Australia 1938
8. Sanath Jayasuriya – 340 vs India 1997
9. Hanif Mohammad – 337 vs West Indies 1958
10. Wally Hammond – 336 vs New Zealand 1933
Left-hander Lara also holds the world record score in first-class cricket – 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham in 1994.
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