In a light-hearted admission, England’s Ben Stokes confessed that had he been in Wiaan Mulder’s position, he would’ve chased down Brian Lara’s iconic 400* Test record without hesitation. His remarks came after Mulder, standing in as South Africa’s captain, declared the innings at lunch on Day 2, unbeaten on 367. Mulder stated he didn’t feel it was right to surpass Lara’s legendary mark, choosing team ethics and legacy over personal glory.
Reacting with a grin, Ben Stokes quipped that Mulder should’ve taken the record when he had the chance, jokingly noting, “He’s not going to get that opportunity again!” In a video shared by Test Match Special on X, Stokes added, “As captain, you’d rather make that decision yourself than be pulled out on a landmark day. Fair play to him. He said it should stay with Brian — that’s a big gesture.”
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Mulder’s selfless act didn’t go unnoticed. He was deservingly named Player of the Match for his breathtaking knock, backed by a three-wicket haul in Zimbabwe’s innings. South Africa completed a series whitewash, thrashing the hosts by an innings and 236 runs in the second Test.
Would Ben Stokes have declared himself with Brian Lara’s record in sight, just as Wiaan Mulder did?
Something tells us probably not… 😅 pic.twitter.com/vmrGsjsehE
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) July 9, 2025
Meanwhile, in the fiercely-contested five-match Test series between England and India, the scoreline stands level at 1-1. England took the opener at Headingley by five wickets, but India roared back at Edgbaston, securing a dominant 336-run victory under Shubman Gill’s leadership.
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All eyes now turn to the third Test at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. England, led by Stokes, will be eager to bounce back and regain the lead, while India will look to ride the wave of momentum. The visitors have already confirmed their XI, with the exciting return of pace spearhead Jofra Archer adding spice to the contest.
England XI for 3rd Test vs India: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir
