Most batsmen would salivate at the opportunity to surpass Brian Lara’s record for the highest score in Test cricket history.
The legendary Trinidadian set the record with his magnificent 400* off 778 balls during the first innings of the fourth Test against England at the Antigua Recreation Ground in 2004, breaking Australian Matthew Hayden’s record of 380 set against Zimbabwe in October 2003.
On Sunday, South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder had the opportunity to eclipse the 21-year-old mark during his team’s second Test against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
The all-rounder, captaining his country for the first time in the absence of regular Test skipper Temba Bavuma and vice-captain Keshav Maharaj, got up to 367* off just 334 balls on day two before declaring 33 runs short of Lara’s record.
Mulder, 27, is now the owner of the highest Test score by a South African and the fifth-highest Test score ever.
South Africa ended their first innings 626-5 declared after 114 overs before bowling the hosts out for 170 in 43 overs in reply. At stumps, they were 51-1 following on, still trailing by 405 runs against the reigning World Test Champions.
Mulder’s knock came after he hit a brilliant 147 in the second innings of the first Test that South Africa won by a mammoth 328 runs.
In an interview with South African great Shaun Pollock at the end of the second day’s play he explained his decision to declare short of the landmark score.
“First things first, I thought we had enough and we need to bowl and secondly, Brian Lara’s a legend, let’s be real,” Mulder said.
“He got 400 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. Speaking to Shuks (Shukri Conrad), he kind of said to me let the legends keep the really big scores. You never know my fate or what’s destined for me but Brian Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be,” he added.
One thing’s for certain, that is a remarkable display of humility and paying homage to one of the greatest players the game of cricket has ever seen.