South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder has just etched his name into cricket history with a magnificent unbeaten 367 against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, becoming the fifth-highest individual scorer in Test cricket history. Playing in only his 21st Test and captaining South Africa for the first time, Mulder was just 33 runs away from Brian Lara’s world record when he chose to declare.
Bottom Line: Mulder’s extraordinary innings off 334 balls (49 fours, 4 sixes) has rewritten the record books and put him among cricket’s greatest individual performances.
The Top 10 Highest Individual Test Scores of All Time
1. Brian Lara (West Indies) – 400 vs England, 2004*
Venue: Recreation Ground, St. John’s, Antigua
Balls Faced: 582
Boundaries: 43 fours, 4 sixes
Duration: 778 minutes
The ultimate Test cricket achievement. Lara’s unbeaten 400 against England in 2004 remains the greatest individual batting feat ever recorded. This legendary knock broke his own previous world record and made him the only batsman to score a quadruple century in Test cricket.
2. Matthew Hayden (Australia) – 380 vs Zimbabwe, 2003
Venue: WACA Ground, Perth
Balls Faced: 437
Boundaries: 38 fours, 11 sixes
Hayden’s brutal 380 against Zimbabwe in Perth was a display of sheer dominance, with his aggressive approach setting a new benchmark for opening batsmen in Test cricket. This innings temporarily broke Lara’s previous record of 375.
3. Brian Lara (West Indies) – 375 vs England, 1994
Venue: Recreation Ground, St. John’s, Antigua
Balls Faced: 538
Boundaries: 45 fours
A decade before his 400*, Lara announced himself on the world stage with a magnificent 375 against England, also in Antigua. This innings broke Sir Garfield Sobers’ long-standing record of 365*.
4. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) – 374 vs South Africa, 2006
Venue: Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo
Balls Faced: 572
Boundaries: 43 fours
Jayawardene’s 374 against South Africa in Colombo was a masterclass in concentration and skill, spanning 752 minutes and showcasing his ability to play long, match-defining knocks.
5. Wiaan Mulder (South Africa) – 367 vs Zimbabwe, 2025*
Venue: Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Balls Faced: 334
Boundaries: 49 fours, 4 sixes
NEW ENTRY! Mulder’s record-breaking innings not only secured the highest individual score by a South African in Test cricket but also set multiple records, including the fastest 350 in Test cricket history (off 324 balls).
6. Sir Garfield Sobers (West Indies) – 365 vs Pakistan, 1958*
Venue: Sabina Park, Kingston
Balls Faced: 614
Boundaries: 38 fours
Sobers’ unbeaten 365 against Pakistan in Kingston held the record for the highest individual score for 36 years. This innings cemented Sobers’ status as one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history.
7. Len Hutton (England) – 364 vs Australia, 1938
Venue: The Oval, London
Balls Faced: 847
Boundaries: 35 fours
Hutton’s 364 against Australia at The Oval was a marathon effort lasting 797 minutes. His innings stood as the highest individual score in Test cricket for two decades.
8. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) – 340 vs India, 1997
Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Strike Rate: 58.82
Boundaries: 36 fours, 2 sixes
Jayasuriya’s explosive 340 against India in Colombo was a testament to his aggressive batting style, showcasing his ability to score quickly while building a massive total.
9. Hanif Mohammad (Pakistan) – 337 vs West Indies, 1958
Venue: Kensington Oval, Bridgetown
Duration: 970 minutes
Hanif Mohammad’s 337 against the West Indies in Bridgetown was an epic display of endurance, lasting over 16 hours. This innings saved the match for Pakistan and earned Hanif the nickname “Little Master.”
10. Wally Hammond (England) – 336 vs New Zealand, 1933*
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Boundaries: 34 fours, 10 sixes
Hammond’s unbeaten 336 against New Zealand in Auckland was a dominant performance that showcased Hammond’s elegance and power, featuring both boundaries and aggressive stroke play.
Records Broken by Wiaan Mulder’s Historic 367*
Mulder’s innings was much more than just a high score – it shattered multiple records:
| Record Category | Previous Record | New Record |
|---|---|---|
| Highest by South African | Hashim Amla – 311* | Wiaan Mulder – 367* |
| Fastest 350 in Tests | Matthew Hayden – 402 balls | Wiaan Mulder – 324 balls |
| Highest on captaincy debut | Graham Dowling – 239 | Wiaan Mulder – 367* |
| Most boundaries in SA innings | Graeme Smith – 35 fours | Wiaan Mulder – 49 fours, 4 sixes |
| Highest away Test score | Hanif Mohammad – 337 | Wiaan Mulder – 367* |
The Elite Triple Century Club
Mulder became only the 29th Test cricketer and just the second South African – after Hashim Amla (311*) in 2012 – to score a triple-century.
Fastest Triple Centuries in Test Cricket
- Virender Sehwag – 278 balls vs South Africa (2008)
- Wiaan Mulder – 297 balls vs Zimbabwe (2025)
- Matthew Hayden – 291 balls vs Zimbabwe (2003)
Statistical Breakdown: Mulder vs The Legends
| Batsman | Score | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Lara | 400* | 582 | 43 | 4 | 68.73 |
| Matthew Hayden | 380 | 437 | 38 | 11 | 86.95 |
| Brian Lara | 375 | 538 | 45 | 0 | 69.70 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 374 | 572 | 43 | 0 | 65.38 |
| Wiaan Mulder | 367* | 334 | 49 | 4 | 109.88 |
Key Insight: Mulder’s strike rate of 109.88 is by far the highest among the top 5 scorers, making his innings not just massive but also remarkably aggressive.
Why Mulder Declared at 367*
Despite being only 33 runs away from Brian Lara’s world record of 400*, Mulder chose to declare at lunch on day two, prioritizing team success over personal glory. The decision immediately paid off as South Africa took early wickets in Zimbabwe’s reply.
Mulder’s Leadership Philosophy: “First thing is first, I thought we had got enough and needed to bowl. Legends should keep such special records.”
Recent Additions to the Elite List
While Mulder’s 367* is the latest spectacular addition, Test cricket has seen other recent entries to the highest scores list:
- Harry Brook (England) – 317 vs Pakistan (2024)
- Joe Root (England) – 262 vs Pakistan (2024) – Part of England’s massive 823/7
Indian Dominance in High Scores
Top 5 Highest Test Scores by Indians
| Rank | Batsman | Score | Opposition | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virender Sehwag | 319 | South Africa | 2008 |
| 2 | Virender Sehwag | 309 | Pakistan | 2004 |
| 3 | Karun Nair | 303* | England | 2016 |
| 4 | Virender Sehwag | 293 | Sri Lanka | 2009 |
| 5 | VVS Laxman | 281 | Australia | 2001 |
Virender Sehwag features prominently in this list, holding the top three positions. His aggressive batting style revolutionized Test match opening.
The Rarity of 300+ Scores
Scoring a triple century in Test cricket is one of the rarest feats in the game, with only 29 batsmen achieving this milestone in over 2,000 Test matches played since 1877.
300+ Scores by Decade
- 1930s-1950s: 4 scores
- 1990s: 3 scores
- 2000s: 7 scores
- 2020s: 4 scores (including Mulder’s 367*)
Looking Ahead: Can Lara’s 400 Ever Be Beaten?*
Mulder’s near-miss has reignited debate about whether Brian Lara’s 21-year-old record will ever be surpassed. With modern aggressive batting and better pitches, the possibility remains tantalizingly close.
What Makes 400+ So Difficult:
- Physical and mental endurance required
- Team situation often demands declaration
- Bowling quality and conditions
- The pressure of history
Wiaan Mulder’s extraordinary 367* has not only rewritten South African cricket history but also reminded us why Test cricket remains the ultimate format for individual brilliance. While he chose team success over personal glory by falling 33 runs short of Lara’s record, his innings will be remembered as one of the greatest displays of cricket spirit in recent memory.
The fact that this incredible knock came on his captaincy debut makes it even more special, proving that in Test cricket, history can be made on any given day