By News18
Wiaan Mulder was named as South Africa’s stand-in captain for the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo after Keshav Maharaj was ruled out due to an injury, and in his first red-ball match as South Africa captain, which is currently underway against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, he is making a big name for himself.
The 27-year-old all-rounder entered his name in the history books by becoming the first South African and overall third cricketer in the world to score a double century in his first Test as captain.
In the 148-year-old history of Test cricket, only two cricketers—Graham Dowling of New Zealand and Shivnarine Chanderpaul of the West Indies—managed to score a double century in their first Test as captain.
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, whereas Chanderpaul remained unbeaten on 203 runs from 370 balls in the first innings of his first Test as West Indies captain against South Africa in March-April 2005 at Georgetown.
Captains to score double century in first Test
Graham Dowling (New Zealand) – 239 vs India in Christchruch (February 1968)
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies) – 203* vs South Africa in Georgetown (March-April 2005)
Wiaan Mulder (South Africa) – 200* vs Zimbabwe in Bulawayo (July 2025)
Mulder completed his double century by scoring a four on the fourth ball of the 75th over of South Africa’s first innings bowled Wellington Masakadza on Day 1 of second Test. He needed 214 balls, 26 fours and one six to cross the 200-run mark.
After completing his double century, Mulder would now like to break Dowling’s all-time record.
Before completing his double century in the third session of first day’s play, Mulder became third South African captain to score a century in his first Test as captain.
Herbie Taylor was the first South African to score a century in his first Test as captain. During the South Africa-England Test played in Durban in December 1913, he scored 109 runs in the first innings.
The second South African to score a century in the first Test as captain was Jackie McGlew. McGlew scored 104 runs for South Africa in the first innings of the August 1955 Test against England at Old Trafford in Manchester.
South African’s to score century in 1st Test as captain
Herbie Taylor vs England (1913)
Jackie McGlew vs England (1955)
Wiaan Mulder vs Zimbabwe (2025)
A total of 34 players have scored a century in their first Test as captain.
Shubman Gill was the last captain to score a century in his first Test as captain before Mulder. Gill scored 147 runs for India in the first innings of the Leeds Test against England on June 20-21, 2025.