Mulder was in sensational form during the second Test in Harare, putting himself within touching distance of Lara’s unbeaten 400, scored against England in 2004.
Moneycontrol Sports Desk –
November 06, 2026 / 18:27 IST
South Africa coach reveals advice to Wiaan Mulder on Lara’s record.
South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad has explained why Wiaan Mulder chose not to go after Brian Lara’s record for the highest individual score in Test cricket, revealing the advice he gave the all-rounder during his remarkable innings against Zimbabwe in 2025.
Mulder was in sensational form during the second Test in Harare, putting himself within touching distance of Lara’s unbeaten 400, scored against England in 2004. However, rather than attempting to surpass the record, Mulder declared the innings at lunch on the second day, having reached 367 not out and falling just 34 runs short of the milestone.
Speaking on The Super Over Podcast, Conrad recalled the conversation he had with Mulder on the second day of the Test. The South African coach said he felt the pressure and attention that came with becoming the world record holder could have been difficult for the all-rounder to handle.
“I suggested to him, ‘I think you should pull out before you get there because I don’t know if you would be able to live with it,’” Conrad said on The Super Over Podcast.
“‘Every time you walk out, you would walk out as a world record holder. Can you live with that tag?’ Will you be able to live with it, knowing the person you are?’
“And we both agreed that he wouldn’t have. We will never know if it was the right or wrong decision. I care about the player’s wellbeing. I thought that was in Wiaan Mulder’s best interest, not only at the time but his time in the game.”
Mulder’s decision sparked considerable debate, with opinions divided over whether he should have continued batting to break Lara’s long-standing record.
Lara himself believed Mulder should have gone for the milestone, telling the South African all-rounder that he had an opportunity to create a legacy of his own. Former West Indies batter Chris Gayle was also critical of the decision. Speaking on talkSPORT, Gayle suggested Mulder had missed a rare opportunity.
However, not everyone questioned the declaration. Former South Africa fast bowler Allan Donald praised Mulder’s approach and was impressed by the reasoning behind his decision.
Mulder, who captained South Africa in the Zimbabwe Test, had earlier explained that he wanted the record to remain with a player of Lara’s stature. He also indicated that he would make the same decision if faced with a similar situation again.
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“Well, first things first, I thought we’ve got enough, we need to bowl. And secondly, Brian Lara is a legend, let’s be real,” Mulder said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“He got 401 [400*] or whatever it was against England. And for someone of that stature to keep that record is pretty special. I think if I get the chance again, I’d probably do the same thing.”
Donald subsequently lauded Mulder’s character, saying his response reflected the kind of person he was.
“His words were amazing, and that just typifies what a human being he is,” Donald said in response. “Whether he decided it’s the right time to declare, I don’t know whether he was aware of the world record [Brian Lara’s 400*]. I’m pretty sure that he did.”
first published: Nov 6, 2026 06:27 pm
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