Second Zimbabwe Test

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Jul 06, 2025, 11:32

Mulder is te captain in this match. Three newbies brought in and one was Senokwane brought in as an opening batsman. He made 3 runs facing 36 balls - while De Zorzi made 10 runs in facin g 30 balls, Both failed as expected.


At this stage Bedingham and Mulder - who again came in as number 3 batsman - has taken the score 71/2 with Mulder at 38 runs (36 balls) and Bedingham 24 runs (16 balls).

Jul 06, 2025, 16:40

Whereas De Zorzi made in total 46 runs in three inings - Pretorius is the innings today made 78 runs facing 69 balls.


It is the first time Mulder is the captain. The record highest score of first time captains stood at 223 runs by a New Zealander - On the list Mulder with 263 runs is now first on the list of 6 captains in the history of cricket who made centuries in the first match they captained their respective teams.


Jul 06, 2025, 17:37

SA made 465 runs losing 4 wickets on day 1 with the bulk of the runs being scored by -


  1. Mulder 264 off 259 balls Not out
  2. Bedingham 82 off 101 balls
  3. Pretorius 77 off 87 balls
  4. Brewis 15 off 16 balls. Not out



Jul 06, 2025, 19:10

Im very happy for Mulder.

He's put in a lot of work in to his game.


I hope that this series is the catalyst for his future.

Jul 06, 2025, 20:30

Denny thinks that the coach wamts hinm to bat at 3 in th future and use him as a Kallis sort of player, ie as a batsman and as a bowler, There is a difference though my sister-in-law once said it is more evxiting to watch paint dry than to watch Kallis bat in tests. Mulder is not batting at snail pace and never did, 32 fours and 8 sixes qwew included


With both present captains passed their sell-by dates I wonder about Mulder becoming the future Protea captain. His first test as captain already set a world record in batting in the first tests by new captains.

Jul 06, 2025, 21:07

Mike


Its Mulder. Not Muller

Jul 07, 2025, 05:43

Corrected = thanks Chippo.

Jul 07, 2025, 12:15

Mulder is now on 367 runs and neds only 8 runs to be the third highest runscoring player ever in world cricket. Bria Lara did it twice - scoring 400 and 375 runs per innings - so if Mulder get 9 more runs tp become te third highest runscorer in world history ever.


In South African cricket history is number i at present - the pevious highest runscorer was Amla at 311 runs made in 2012 so he made thus far 56 more runs than Amla did. The difference also is that his strike rate is over 6 runs per over - so a great strike rate as well. . .

Jul 07, 2025, 12:55

"so a great strike rate as well"


... guess who doesn't understand test cricket.

Jul 07, 2025, 22:14

Mulder declares 33 short of Lara's Test record scorepublished at 12:02 British Summer Time

12:02 BST

Wiaan MulderImage source, Getty Images

Right, after one of the shortest live texts - and one of the more interesting declarations in Test history - that's it from me.

You can read more about Wiaan Mulder's 367 not out - the fifth-highest score in Tests - and the South African's subsequent decision to declare here, courtesy of Stephan Shemilt.

As for me, I'll get back to preparing for the Wimbledon shift I was expecting to be on when I got into the office this morning...




Who is Wiaan Mulder?published at 11:55 British Summer Time

11:55 BST

Wiaan MulderImage source, Getty Images

You could be forgiven for not knowing a great deal about Wiaan Mulder.

At 27, he is not someone who has just burst onto the scene and while he has had a perfectly respectable career, it's not been spectacular, he's not seen as star of the global game - and until recently, it's his bowling more than his batting that has stood out.

Mulder averaged just 26.20 with the bat in 20 Tests prior to his stunning triple century and he only scored his first half-century in the format in October.

He's since added two centuries but to say a score of 367 not out was coming would be pushing it.

Still, he's certainly made a name for himself now - both with his brilliant performance and his decision to declare 33 runs shy of the record!




Highest Test scorespublished at 11:47 British Summer Time

11:47 BST

Anyway, back to the matter in hand. No all-time record for Wiaan Mulder but he has pushed the great Sir Garry Sobers out of the top five...

  1. 400* - Brian Lara, West Indies v England, 2004
  2. 380 - Matthew Hayden, Australia v Zimbabwe, 2003
  3. 375 - Brian Lara, West Indies v England, 1994
  4. 374 - Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2006
  5. 367* - Wiaan Mulder, Zimbabwe v South Africa, 2025
  6. 365* - Garry Sobers - West Indies v Pakistan, 1958



Jul 07, 2025, 22:22

Did anyone hear his interview after the days play?


the guy is so humble.

I love it.

it’s really something I like in a sportsman.


Then again, I also enjoy the brash arrogance of Luhun Dre.


… I’m so confused right now.


well played Willem!

Jul 08, 2025, 13:49

Mulder is a credit to the game of cricket, South African cricket and to South Africa.. Long will we remember his reasons for not wanting to break Brian Lara's record. The respect shown in this day and age will reap our sport and sports people a reciprocal response from all over the world.


“I felt we were in a good position to do that, and I didn’t have to bat any longer. And also, I think respecting the game is really important — letting someone like Lara keep his record.

"He’s one of the greatest to ever play the game, so he deserves that. I think we’re still in a great position to win the game, and that’s all that matters.”


Well said and done you've done your country proud.


Jul 08, 2025, 16:08

Agree with you on that one. He could conmtinue for another 10 overs and break the would record pf Lara, His respect of Lara needs to be duplicated by players worldwide -Lara was really a cricet great,


In any event Muldr broke many longstanding World and SA records anyway.


Hope he becomes the next Protea captain - with Bavuma beginning to grt stale stale not a patch on him as captain.


I think it is high time that they bring Pretorius, Brevis and Bisch into the starting tema of he Proteas, Together with Rickelton and Verreynne the team will be able to bat 7 or even 8 in tests. The same applies to ODI's and T20's as well.




Jul 09, 2025, 01:21

Well it is refreshing to see a true sportsman such as this in the present professional era making such a personal call.

A credit to South Africa and respected by all.


Jul 09, 2025, 09:36

Hope he becomes the next Protea captain..


So do I.......so should all of us.


Edit: That is quite a team going forward Mikey.....


I think it is high time that they bring Pretorius, Brevis and Bosch into the starting team of the Proteas, together with Rickelton and Verreynne the team will be able to bat to 7 or even 8 in tests.


I'm pretty confident that there'll be one or two more putting their hand up.

The future could be good.

Jul 09, 2025, 11:47

If it was about respect for Brian Lara's record, he could have gone to 399...or at least past Matthew Hayden's 380...also vs Zim...I'm kinda disappointed in him and the team that he didn't at the very least went past the 380...to me a lack of ruthless killer instinct needed to compete at the top.

Jul 09, 2025, 11:50

So, if it wasn't respect for Brian Lara tell us what it is.

There, the floor is yours.

Jul 09, 2025, 11:53

IDK, why stop at the 5th highest score ever? Bizarre, it does not make sense. If it was only about Lara, why not stop at 390 odd? You tell me.

Jul 09, 2025, 12:04

I agree Db, it's a lack of killer instinct, which is needed at this level

Giving your opponent or even ex-players too much respect could be detrimental to your game

Not many people, with so many careers in this game, have ever had that kind of unique opportunity

In a way, I do respect what he did, I just believe he could have gone on for more runs and put himself in the top 3 or 2 and then retired

Jul 09, 2025, 12:14

Still an fantastic achievement.

Jul 09, 2025, 12:19

I'll say this slowly......

Mulder has stated that out of...... respect for Lara......he decided not to break his test record.


You are skeptical of his motive....If it was about respect for Brian Lara's record, he could have gone to 399....there's a few ways to interpret what you're saying.....(1) that Mulder is a Liar (2) Mulder is a soft cock and has no killer instinct or (3) He's out of touch with reality.

Quite frankly I don't believe that there's anything bizarre about what Mulder did, that's how simple it is. he made a decision that he's entitled to, in this day and age it's a rarity, he and only he had every right to make that call.

I respect Mulder's right to make that call equally as much as much as I respect Mulder's respect for the game of cricket.

Einde.

Jul 09, 2025, 12:54

Well, I resect his achievement, bot not his reasoning behind declaring on the fifth highest score ever with lots of time left in the test...his right by all means. Personally I would have liked seeing a South African's name at the top of that table. Records are there to be broken.

Jul 09, 2025, 15:01

I for one am 100% behind what Mulder decided to do.

Hats off to his reasoning and his comments afterwards, pure class in my opinion.


If he had continued batting and broken Lara's record it would always be said that he scored his runs against a weaker so called test team that what Lara record had to face.


Jul 09, 2025, 16:03

All fair points AJH, and I agree with them as well, as well as the fact that I can also respect what Mulder did and why he did it, to a certain degree.

However, I am also of the school of thought that Db is in regarding this specific issue..... that records are meant to be broken.

For example, if a player has the opportunity now to score the quickest ever 200 in only his 3rd test match for his country, and decided not to because it would remove Tendulkar from the top of the list..... I would not agree with that either, I mean let's be honest....where would this logic apply and when?

Also, let's say hypothetically that Mulder goes on to have such a fantastic career with South Africa that he actually matches or eclipses Lara's overall records as a batsman...... he would rue this opportunity here if it never came his way again.

I don't buy into the "I have too much respect for all those that came before me" ..... because he needs to carve his own career path and if that means taking some of the all time records along the way, then so be it, because he will never know when that kind of opportunity comes around again.

It's each to their own in this harsh and wicked sports world, and if you can achieve something that many others can't or couldn't before you came along, then grab it with all hands.

I will say again though, massive respect for Mulder for what he did, because I believe there are many others that wouldn't have done that.


Jul 09, 2025, 16:59

"If he had continued batting and broken Lara's record it would always be said that he scored his runs against a weaker so called test team that what Lara record had to face"


Matthew Hayden's 380, also vs Zim, was up for grabs...sorry to say but stupid for noble reasons is still stupid.

Jul 09, 2025, 17:57

All I can say is that Mulder made the call to declare as the Captain.

The win which was never in doubt was his to make.

Amen.



Jul 09, 2025, 21:22

Strange, illogical call, the bookies must have been surprised?...sorry for being a doos...

Jul 10, 2025, 10:47

I think both Dave and I doubted that Mulder who thus far bat at 6 was up to batting at 3, He apparently was. The act is I am sure the Proteas need a total revamp and the teamw ill end up being stronger than they were in the period 2 000 to dare, In test context I think it is time to remove Bavuma and De Zorzi and from the team and replace them asap. I would have include Markram in the list of dismissals had it not been for his century in the final.

Jul 11, 2025, 11:40

Mike

I like Codi Yusuf.....I like him a lot. His control is pretty damn good. The stint with Durham has obviously improved his game.

Jul 11, 2025, 12:01

Like hom too - so the bowler component should be Rabada, Yusuf, Jansen and Bosch - for the tme being the spinner could be Maharaj - but that may only happen in tests.

Jul 11, 2025, 14:38

Maharaj is out injured. Seem to be a few spinners around, I haven't seen any of them but the one who I have seen is George Linde. I think he's worth a shout.


so the bowler component should be Rabada, Yusuf, Jansen and Bosch


Bingo!

 
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