This week, South African batsman Wiaan Mulder sparked debate in the cricketing world when he chose to let legends be legends. In just his sixth innings at number 3 for the Proteas, Mulder blasted 367 runs from just 334 deliveries against Zimbabwe to take the crown for the highest individual score by a South African in test cricket. Mulder looked on track to surpass legends of the game, Mahela Jayawardene, Matthew Hayden, and Brian Lara, to take the number one spot on the list of highest individual test scores and secure status as a legend. But just 33 runs short of Lara’s mammoth 400 not out, Mulder, who was also captaining the side, declared the South African innings.
Mulder later said in an interview that “Brian Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be.” And that if he got the chance again, he would “probably do the same thing.” Proteas coach Shukri Conrad apparently also told Mulder to “let the legends keep the really big scores.” This begs the question: What makes a legend, and who gets to be one?
Left: Cricket legend Brian Lara
Right: Proteas batsman Wiaan Mulder
A Missed Opportunity for Mulder
Reactions to Mulder’s declaration have been mixed. Some praised the young batter’s respect for the legends of the game and his selflessness in putting the team first. Many have expressed that breaking the record against a weaker opposition like Zimbabwe wouldn’t hold the same prestige as Lara’s score against an English attack that included names like Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, and Mathew Hoggard. It is worth noting that Lara’s record came in a game that ended in a draw. Mulder’s Proteas beat Zimbabwe with plenty of time left.
Australia’s Mathew Hayden holds the second-highest score with 380, also against Zimbabwe. At the time, this was the world record as Hayden surpassed Brian Lara’s previous record of 375. Nobody ever questions the legitimacy of Hayden’s record, just as I don’t think anyone with any cricketing sense would have questioned Mulder. Scoring 300+ in test cricket is rare. It has only happened 32 times in history, and all the test-playing nations (except new additions Ireland and Afghanistan) have been on the receiving end. As cricket writer Neil Manthorp put it, “To call it a missed opportunity or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is not really doing it justice because most of the greatest batters in the history of the game have never had such an opportunity.” Translation: only legends score triple centuries, and if you get a shot at a big one, you better take it!
The South African Cricketing Mindset
As a die-hard Proteas fan, I think there is more to this. Regardless of the position of the match or the quality of the opposition, there is something to be said for being ruthless in sport. Imagine an Australian batter like Travis Head or Steve Smith were in the same position. Would they have humbly retired their innings and said, “let the legends be the legends”? I doubt it. I don’t think a single Australian batter would have declared before smashing Hayden and Lara’s records and claiming the top spot for themselves. Because Australian cricketers are ruthless. They’re the most successful cricket team of all time, and a key reason for their success is their unconditional pursuit of excellence. They win games because they truly believe they are the best. The South African cricketing mindset is different. Most SA cricketers are humbler and more reserved than their Australian counterparts. The Proteas have had their fair share of tough competitors in Dale Steyn, Mark Boucher, and the ultimate Proteas warrior, Graeme Smith, but for the most part, South African cricketers don’t exude the same confidence and hunger as the Aussies. I believe Mulder had an opportunity to do something great for SA cricket this week, but squandered it.
A month ago, the Proteas pulled off the unthinkable when they beat Australia in the World Test Championship Final. This victory did wonders for South African cricket, especially after multiple experts and pundits wrote them off. Many casual supporters were riveted and watched the entire game. Others who have never been cricket fans and don’t even fully understand the game, rallied behind the Proteas and celebrated their victory like they would a Springbok victory. Then, less than a month later, a young batter, newly promoted to number 3, scores the highest score ever by a South African cricketer. Amazing! Protea Fire! He also breaks the world record for the highest score by any test batsman ever! … Only, he didn’t. He came close, but when it was up for grabs, he respectfully declined. Comparing the Proteas to the Springboks is a tired cliché, but I can’t help but wonder what the reaction would have been if a Springbok team took their foot off the gas against a weaker opponent to preserve a different team’s record. I think it’s safe to say heads would have rolled!
Imagine what it could have done for this young Proteas team’s confidence going into the current WTC cycle with the top dog walking in at number 3. Imagine what it could have done for aspiring young cricketers and fans, knowing that our Wiaan scored the highest total by any batsman ever! Instead, we’re left questioning what makes a legend and who has the right to break records and claim their own legendary status.
From Where I Stand 