South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder made history at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo on Monday by becoming the first player to score a triple century on Test captaincy debut. He achieved the spectacular feat against Zimbabwe. His outstanding innings also set multiple records, including becoming the youngest Test captain to score 300 and achieving the second-fastest triple century in Test cricket.Mulder surpassed Graham Dowling’s previous record of 239 runs for the highest score on Test captaincy debut, which was set against India in Christchurch in 1969. Resuming at 264 not out which he had set the previous day, Mulder continued his impressive performance by breaking Graeme Smith’s record of 277, the highest score by a South African captain, set against England in 2003.The 27-year-old captain reached his triple century in just 297 balls, making it the second-fastest in Test history. The record for the fastest triple century remains with India’s Virender Sehwag, who achieved the feat in 278 balls against South Africa in Chennai in 2008.Mulder’s achievement placed him ahead of Harry Brook’s 310-ball triple century against Pakistan in Multan last year. Playing in only his 21st Test match, he joined Hashim Amla as the second South African to score a Test triple century.
At 27 years and 138 days, Mulder broke the 61-year record for the youngest Test captain to score a triple hundred. He surpassed former Australian captain Bob Simpson, who was 28 years and 171 days old when he scored 311 against England in Manchester in 1964. In the same week, India’s 25-year-old Test captain Shubman Gill fell short of the record at Edgbaston, scoring 269 against England.
Fastest triple centuries in Tests
- 278 balls – Virender Sehwag, IND vs SA – 2008
- 297 balls – Wiaan Mulder,
SA vs ZIM – 2025 - 310 balls – Harry Brook, ENG vs PAK – 2024
- 362 balls – Matthew Hayden, AUS vs ZIM – 2003
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The record for youngest Test captains to score triple centuries is now led by Mulder at 27 years and 138 days, followed by Bob Simpson at 28 years and 171 days, Mahela Jayawardena at 29 years and 61 days with 374 runs, and Michael Clarke at 30 years and 276 days with an unbeaten 329.
