Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey

Former South Africa fast bowler Allan Donald was full of praise for Wiaan Mulder after the stand-in captain opted to declare when batting on 367 in the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

Mulder was well on track to break Brian Lara’s record of the highest individual score in Test history (400*), before deciding to cut the innings short with the Proteas having amassed 626/5d by lunch on day two.

““Well, first things first, I thought we’ve got enough, we need to bowl. And secondly, Brian Lara is a legend, let’s be real,” Mulder said.

“He got 401 [400*] or whatever it was against England. And for someone of that stature to keep that record is pretty special. I think if I get the chance again, I’d probably do the same thing.”

Allan Donald on Wiaan Mulder and his reaction to the decision to declare on 367*

In an exclusive interview with CricBlog, Donald praised Mulder as a cricketer and predicts a very bright future for the all-rounder. He shed light on his strengths and how his words about Brian Lara reflect his character. Below is the audio plus full transcript from the interview.

Praise for Wiaan Mulder…

“I’m extremely privileged to be working with this talented young man, Wiaan Mulder. He is an unbelievable cricketer. For me, he is a proper batter that can bowl. And I think the world is just about seeing what talent he really is, and what he can do.

“There’s already people going around saying ‘yeah, but it’s Zimbabwe’… I really, really couldn’t care less. When these opportunities come along, you’ve still got to cash in and go big. And that’s exactly what he’s done.”

On what the future holds for Wiaan Mulder…

I thought he played… I don’t think I’ve seen him play better than that [367* vs Zimbabwe]. And he will, I think at some point…. he will, against the bigger teams…. wouldn’t say he’s going to break world records like that against class, real class bowling attacks, but he will get hundreds.

“I think he’s an outstanding talent. Now armed with a national contract, I don’t think we’re going to be seeing him much at the Lions. I think he’s destined now to fill this space in the national team in all formats, and that’s his destiny and so it should be.

“He’s now ready and I think he’s found his mojo in Test cricket now. Whether he bats at three now moving on… a lot of other players are being rested for these two Test matches [against Zimbabwe], he’s really shown what class he has at number three.”

On declaring on 367 not out…

“His words were amazing, and that just typifies what a human being he is. Whether he decided it’s the right time to declare, I don’t know whether he was aware of the world record [Brian Lara’s 400*]. I’m pretty sure that he did. Whether Brian Lara knew or kept an eye on that is another thing, but for him to say that space belongs to Brian Lara and how he looks up to him as a cricketer vs. cricketer…. or ex-cricketer…. it just typifies what Wiaan Mulder stands for.

“And it’s wonderful to see him say that… that space belongs to the great Brian Lara. I know Brian extremely well… and he’s broken many, many records in his lifetime, and an outstanding cricketer.

“I’m pretty sure that someone would have told him [Lara], ‘hey there’s a young guy from South Africa that’s going to break the world record,’ and then all of a sudden that [the declaration] happens, and he has now gone past Graeme Smith, he’s gone past Gary Kirsten… hopefully this is the start of many, many big scores to come.

“He’s good to watch. He’s got time. He makes it look effortless. And long may it continue.”

South Africa went on to win the match by an innings and 236 runs. The victory was their tenth consecutive in Tests – their best run ever.