West Indies batting legend Chris Gayle didn’t hold back while expressing his disappointment over Wiaan Mulder’s unexpected decision to declare South Africa’s innings at 626/5, just 34 runs short of breaking Brian Lara’s iconic Test record of 400 not out. Mulder, unbeaten on a phenomenal 367, chose to put team strategy above personal glory—much to Gayle’s disbelief.
Mulder’s 367* came in the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, marking a defining moment in his career. His triple hundred came off just 297 balls, the second-fastest in Test history, putting him within striking distance of one of the most unassailable records in cricket. Yet, instead of going after the milestone, the Proteas all-rounder called the innings off shortly after the first session on Day 2—an act seen by many as sporting, but by Gayle, as a missed shot at immortality.
“If I ever got that close to 400, I’m not declaring, that’s for sure,” Chris Gayle told talkSPORT. “You don’t get these chances often. You’re on 367—at that point, you owe it to yourself to go for it. This is how you become a legend. Records are part of legacy.”
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Gayle, who himself narrowly missed out on surpassing Lara’s record when he scored 333 against Sri Lanka in 2010, believes Mulder may have panicked under pressure. While Mulder later clarified that he didn’t want to disrespect Lara’s legacy by breaking the record, Gayle suggested that such thinking was overly cautious.
“Maybe he got overwhelmed. But this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Chris Gayle said. “Yes, Lara is a legend, but greats are meant to be challenged. That’s how the game evolves.”
Critics have pointed out that Mulder’s knock came against a struggling Zimbabwe side, ranked low on the Test ladder. But Gayle brushed aside that argument with conviction.
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“It doesn’t matter who you’re playing. A Test triple hundred is a triple hundred. You don’t get to 367 by accident. He had the platform, the time, and the rhythm. But he let it slip. Big chance, gone,” Chris Gayle concluded.
Mulder’s selfless call has sparked a debate on the balance between individual milestones and team priorities—one that may long linger in cricketing circles.
