Those are those sports moments you never forget. The place when the time literally stands still and you recall what you were doing at that moment? To cricket fans, the game involving Wiaan Mulder breaking the marathon 302 against Zimbabwe on Thursday has been one of those rare and magic days.
I saw it with my crazy uncle who was an obsessive cricket fan in his living room in Pretoria. When Mulder lifted his bat to reach 300 this hardened unweeping mineworker since 1994 misted up. He grumbled, “never thought I would witness another South African doing this once AB retires.” It was there that I knew – this was not a usual big hit. This was an exceptional thing.
Nearly a Man to History Maker
Six months back, Mulder was the one everybody was discussing as some one with all the potential but could never deliver. The versatile batsman with a dangerous batting average who was not quite able to clinch a permanent Test berth. The coaches of the player kept saying that he just needs one big innings.
Then was Harare. There in waddled Mulder, his game face on. Something was still in him. No shooting of glances at the dressing room. Not a fuddling-about at the crease. Nothing but simple concentrated sheer grit.
Next was 514 minutes of perfect batting:
First session: survival (only 42 runs)
Second innings: Getting properly settled (scores 100 off 198 balls)
Third session: Getting in control (200 appears in 327 balls)
Finale match: Unquestionable superiority (last 102 runs in 109 balls only)
In their credit, Zimbabwean fielders cheered all the milestones. The maid of all work was an attractive girl as well; so that by 250 time their hottest fast bowler was nodding respectfully at him. That is what great innings are all about, they cut across games between team rivals.
The Records Which Count
All right, the figures are staggering:
Youngest triple centurion from South Africa (25 years, 148 days)
No. 6 batsman Test score ever recorded (breaking the record of Ben Stokes)
One of the first triple tons in Zimbabwe since 2003
When, however, there are:
His coach during childhood went live on SuperSport commentary and started crying
His cover drive was especially glorious and Zimbabwe-s captain shook his hand half way down the pitch
South Africa dressing room saluted Hitler by sitting without saying a word as he walked off
The Human StoryBehind the Headlines
The things they aren t going to show you in the highlights:
When Mulder spent 20 minutes of his time alone on the outfield after the play simply staring at the pitch
How his hands trembled as he attempted to quench his pads in a changing room
How the voice of his mom cracked when she recalled about all the 5 am practices in the rain on a radio interview
That is why Test cricket is the pure form of game. Where are you going to find two-plus hours of gradually-piling action that concludes with fully-grown men embracing, and virtual strangers five-slapping at sports bars?
Whats Next?
Time of the real test has already arrived. Not to mention, as a former Proteas captain Faf du Plessis put it, a single great innings would render one a hero. Being consistent will turn you into a legend.”
My dear,–but to-day,–let us relish this. At a time when we are facing too much glitz and glamor of T20 matches and player auctions, Mulder gave us the reason we fell in love with cricket in the first place and that is when a player comes and shows us that exceptional piece of performance which leaves us all different in some ways.
Well excuse me now, I must hurry off and tell my wife why I have the scorecard picture put over our bed. There are certain things that are so special that you can not forget them.
