England captain Ben Stokes has shared a light-hearted reaction to South African batter Wiaan Mulder’s decision to declare his innings at 367 runs, just shy of Brian Lara’s world record of 400.
A Bold Declaration and a Missed Record
In a recent Test match against Zimbabwe, South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder put on a sensational batting display. He amassed an incredible 367 runs, placing him firmly in contention to break Brian Lara’s long-standing Test record of 400 not out.
Mulder had already achieved a significant milestone, surpassing Hashim Amla’s 311 to record the highest individual score by a South African batsman. Yet, with a world record seemingly within reach, Mulder made the surprising decision to declare South Africa’s innings at 625/5.
Stokes’ Amused Reaction
England captain Ben Stokes weighed in on the decision during the sidelines of the India vs England 3rd Test. Stokes expressed respect for Mulder’s captaincy call, acknowledging that sometimes a captain has to make tough choices for the team.
However, Stokes couldn’t resist a playful jab. He remarked that Mulder is “not going to get that opportunity again,” implying that such a chance to break a monumental record is extremely rare. Stokes highlighted Mulder’s reported reason of wanting to preserve Lara’s record.
Mulder’s Reasoning Explained
Mulder himself offered a clear explanation for his controversial declaration. His primary reason was strategic: he felt the team had accumulated enough runs and it was time for their bowlers to take the field and put pressure on Zimbabwe.
Beyond tactics, Mulder also cited a deep respect for Brian Lara. He stated that Lara, a “legend” who scored 400 against England in 2004, deserved to keep his iconic record. Mulder affirmed his decision, saying he would “probably do the same thing” if faced with the situation again.
Chris Gayle Disagrees Sharply
Not everyone agreed with Mulder’s sporting gesture. West Indies cricketing legend Chris Gayle was particularly vocal in his criticism, labeling Mulder’s decision a “blunder.” Gayle argued that Mulder “panicked” and missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Gayle emphasized that records are crucial for becoming a legend in the sport. He believes that any player in such a position, just 33 runs shy of a world record, should have pushed to achieve it. For Gayle, it was a “big time” blown chance for the young player.
- Wiaan Mulder declared South Africa’s innings at 367 runs, 33 short of Brian Lara’s 400-run world record.
- England captain Ben Stokes light-heartedly commented that Mulder won’t get such a record-breaking opportunity again.
- Mulder stated his reasons for declaring were team strategy and respect for Brian Lara’s legacy.
- Chris Gayle strongly criticized the decision, calling it a “blunder” and a missed “once-in-a-lifetime” chance for legendary status.
The incident has sparked a fascinating debate in the cricketing world: is personal glory secondary to team strategy, or do individual records contribute to the sport’s rich history?
