- July 8, 2025
Wiaan Mulder has risen as a formidable new force in the history of Test cricket. The South African allrounder just bulldozed his way into cricketing immortality with an unbeaten 367 against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo – a score that now stands as the fifth highest individual score in Test history. From surpassing legends to rewriting the strike-rate records, this was not merely a big knock, it was a giant leap in the cricketing realm. Why did Mulder’s innings stand out as something truly ridiculous? Let’s investigate.
From Reliable Allrounder to Record-Breaking Beast
Wiaan Mulder was not a likely candidate to enter the top five all-time Test scores. It is fair to say that, before now, he has always been more of a workman than a controversial headline-maker. But on a flat Bulawayo pitch, Mulder fizzled into a wrecking ball. His 367 now sits behind only Lara, Hayden, Lara again, and Jayawardene. Even more noteworthy, he is now only the second South African to hit a triple hundred, being the graceful Hashim Amla.
The significance was as much in the approach as in the sheer total of runs. His strike rate of 109.88 was faster than a YouTube highlights reel. Sehwag is the only player to score a triple ton faster than Mulder, while also in Test history, his innings are only the second 300+ to have a strike rate of 100+. Power, placement, and poise are all on display.
A Session for the Ages and a Series to Remember
This wasn’t a one-off either. Mulder didn’t just own a segment of the game; he owned many segments. He also joined the two-session club of batters to score over 100 runs in two segments of the same innings, previously listed with Bradman and Hayden.
Just when you thought you were in a dream, this wasn’t a freak event either. He’s scored 531 runs in the series already, fifth-most ever in a two-match Test series, which is not just domination. It’s a demolition. For a man in his first Test as captain, what a way to make an entrance!
Not Just Records—Mulder Changed the Narrative
Beyond the stats and milestones, Wiaan Mulder’s innings have been a subtle shift in how Test cricket is played or viewed. His attacking tempo added to South Africa’s run rate of 5.49—one better than England’s famed Bazball run-rate during its run of abandon in Rawalpindi, and it solidifies that Test cricket is not always a long-drawn-out slog; it can be full carnage if you approach it in the right way.
Mulder’s boundary count, 53, is the second-most scored in a Test innings ever. Put it this way, he didn’t just nudge or grind his way there; he went for the bowling, he entertained, and set a new benchmark regarding the definition of dominance. Mulder’s innings will now reside with the great ones as he gave another game-changer to Test cricket.
Wiaan Mulder didn’t just break records with his 367; he made a moment that will stand the test of time in Test history. With jaw-dropping strike rates and the consistency to bludgeon through a session, he has given every fan a glimmer of hope that Test cricket is not only alive but can reverberate with excitement and explosiveness. The big question is now whether Mulder can sustain this and be a long-term standard bearer for South Africa, or was this a once-in-a-generation blitz that will forever remain folklore? In any event, fans of cricket will be watching and hoping for repetition.
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