Chris Gayle, the West Indies legend, has blasted Wiaan Mulder, the South Africa stand-in captain. Gayle thinks Mulder missed a chance of a lifetime when he didn’t go for Brian Lara’s Test record of 400 in the second Test against Zimbabwe.
Mulder was on 367 not out at lunch on day two of the match in Bulawayo. With South Africa in a strong position, Lara’s record seemed within reach. But Mulder chose not to go for it. Instead he declared South Africa’s first innings at 626/5, letting Lara keep his record. He was 34 runs away from a world record when he declared.
Mulder explained his decision, You never know what is meant to be, but Brian Lara keeping that record is how it should be. He is a legend. His 400 against England was amazing. It feels right for someone of his level to hold that record.
Gayle didn’t agree. He thinks Mulder panicked and messed up by not going for the record.
Gayle told talkSPORT, If I could aim for 400, I would. Chances like that are rare. You don’t know when you will score a triple century again. When you get such a chance, you should grab it.
But he was kind, saying he wanted Lara to keep the record. Maybe he panicked and didn’t know what to do. You’re at 367; you have to go for the record. How can you become a legend if you don’t try? Records make legends, he added.
I think he made a mistake by not trying. We don’t know if he would have made it or not. But he stopped at 367 and gave his reasons. Still, it’s a once in a lifetime chance to score 400 in a Test match. You messed up big time, young man!
It doesn’t matter who you play; a century is a Test century. A double, triple or 400 is Test cricket. It’s the best game. He panicked and messed up, plain and simple, Gayle said.
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Mulder’s 367 not out is the 5th highest individual score in Test history. Only Brian Lara, Matthew Hayden and Mahela Jayawardena have scored more in a single Test innings. His amazing innings included 49 fours and 4 sixes and is the highest score for South Africa in Test matches.
