Wiaan Mulder: Brian Lara said I should have broken his record

Mulder was captaining South Africa for the first time following injuries to Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj. He chose to declare following consultation with coach Shukri Conrad, who told him, “Let the legends keep the really big scores”.

Despite gaining Lara’s seal of approval, Mulder said he would not have changed his decision.

“It’s super special and not something I would have dreamt of,” said the 27-year-old.

“That was an interesting point of view from his side, but I still believe I did the right thing and respecting the game is the most important part for me.”

Lara’s effort in Antigua 21 years ago was the second time he broke the record. He made 375, also against England, in 1994, before Australia’s Matthew Hayden passed that with 380 against Zimbabwe in Perth in 2003.

The other score ahead of Mulder is the 374 by Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene against South Africa in 2006.

Mulder’s triple century was only the second by a South African, after Hashim Amla’s 311 not out against England at The Oval in 2012. Mulder reached 300 from 297 balls, the second-fastest in Test cricket after the 278 taken by India’s Virender Sehwag against South Africa in 2008.