Why Did Wiaan Mulder Stop at 367? Did Cricket’s Nicest Guy Just Miss the Greatest Opportunity in South African History?
In a sport obsessed with numbers, Wiaan Mulder did the unthinkable—he stopped at 367*.
At Bulawayo, Mulder had turned the Zimbabwean attack into bowling practice. The South African stand-in captain was cruising. Lunch on Day 2, 367 not out. Just 34 runs away from breaking Brian Lara’s 400*, the most iconic Test record of the modern era.
The world waited for Mulder to return after lunch and make history. But instead? He declared.
Why?
“Brian Lara is a legend,” he said post-match. “That record belongs to someone of that stature. If given the chance again, I’d still declare.” His coach, Shukri Conrad, echoed the sentiment: “Let the legends keep the big scores.”
Admirable? Maybe.
But also—a massive letdown.
This wasn’t just about Mulder’s name in lights. This was South Africa’s chance to stamp their name on one of cricket’s most elite pages. For a country that’s long battled for respect in the Test arena, this was a moment that could’ve echoed forever.
Let’s put this in context. Imagine if Virat Kohli had said, “Let Sachin keep his 49 ODI hundreds.”
Would India have reached the 2023 World Cup final without his 50th against New Zealand? Doubt it.
Cricket, like life, rewards courage. Mulder had the rarest of chances—momentum, conditions, and form—all on his side. But instead of chasing cricketing immortality, he chose restraint.
Yes, we admire humility. But not when it costs history.
Records aren’t just numbers—they’re narrative shifts. Lara’s 400 came in 2004. No one’s come close since. Mulder could’ve been the one. He didn’t just walk away from 34 runs; he walked away from a legacy.
Declaring at 367* is like getting to the gates of Mount Everest and saying, “This view is enough.” Noble? Maybe. But no one writes songs about people who almost did the impossible.
