By News18
South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder on Sunday (July 6) scripted history in Bulawayo. In his first Test as South Africa captain, which is currently underway against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club, he broke the world record for scoring the most runs (in an innings) in the first Test as captain. The 27-year-old right-arm medium pacer came out to bat at No. 3 on Sunday and crossed the 250-run mark in the 84th over of South Africa’s first innings.
Before Mulder (who crossed 250-run mark in 244 balls), the record of scoring the most runs in an innings of the first Test as captain was in the name of New Zealand’s Graham Dowling.
Dowling made his Test captaincy debut for the Kiwis against India in February 1968 in Christchurch and scored 239 runs from 519 balls in the first innings.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul of the West Indies, who is the only other captain besides Mulder and Dowling to score a double century in the first Test as captain, is third on the list now.
Chanderpaul made his Test captaincy debut for the West Indies against South Africa in March-April 2005 at Georgetown and remained unbeaten on 203 runs from 370 balls in the first innings.
Most runs in 1st Test as captain
Wiaan Mulder (South Africa) – 250* vs Zimbabwe in Bulawayo (July 2025)
Graham Dowling (New Zealand) – 239 vs India in Christchruch (February 1968)
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies) – 203* vs South Africa in Georgetown (March-April 2005)
Clem Hill (Australia) – 191 vs South Africa in Sydney (December 1910)
Joe Root (England) – 190 vs South Africa at Lord’s (July 2017)
Alastair Cook (England) – 173 vs Bangladesh in Chattogram (March 2010)
Vijay Hazare (India) – 164* vs England in Delhi (November 1954)
Clive Lloyd (West Indies) – 163 vs India in Bengaluru (November 1974)
Mulder added 184 runs for the third wicket with David Bedingham (82 runs from 101 balls) on Sunday and 217 runs for the fourth wicket with Lhuan-dre Pretorius (78 runs from 87 balls).
Mulder, was batting on 247 runs from 241 balls on Sunday when Tanaka Chivanga clean bowled him on the third ball of the 84th over, but it turned out to be a no ball and Mulder got a lifeline.
The South African batter would now like to complete a triple century, and if he manages to do so, then he will become the first cricketer in 148 years to score 300 runs in the first Test as captain.