Former England skipper Michael Atherton recently shared a fascinating anecdote about cricketing icon Brian Lara, revealing that the West Indies legend once foresaw Yashasvi Jaiswal and Harry Brook as potential candidates to break his monumental 400-run Test record. Lara’s unbeaten 400, set in 2004 against England, remains the highest individual score in Test cricket and a symbol of batting supremacy.
Atherton, speaking on the Sky Sports Podcast, recalled a conversation with Lara before the latter’s record-breaking 375 in 1994. “I asked him if someone would ever break the record, and he confidently said yes—because modern players score at a faster pace. When I asked who could do it, he mentioned Yashasvi Jaiswal and Harry Brook,” Michael Atherton revealed.
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Jaiswal and Brook have indeed begun their careers with promise. Jaiswal has already registered multiple double centuries, showing composure and flair beyond his years. Brook, too, created headlines when he smashed a scintillating 317 in a Test against Pakistan in 2024, solidifying his status as a future star.
The conversation gained fresh relevance following Wiaan Mulder’s sensational unbeaten 367 against Zimbabwe. The South African stand-in skipper had an outside chance to chase Lara’s record but chose to declare, prioritizing his team’s chances of a win. His decision sparked debate among fans and former players alike, especially as his score now sits fifth on the all-time Test list.
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Adding to the discussion, Dinesh Karthik noted how Mulder’s transformation has been striking. “When he walked out at No.3 in the WTC Final against Australia, many thought it was a one-off experiment. He didn’t make a huge score, but he showed grit. That laid the foundation for what we’re seeing now. But did I expect him to get 367? Absolutely not,” Dinesh Karthik admitted during the podcast.
While Lara’s 400 remains untouched, the belief that young guns like Jaiswal and Brook could one day topple it has only grown stronger—especially with players like Mulder getting so close.
