England captain Ben Stokes weighed in on the hot topic surrounding Wiaan Mulder’s shock declaration during South Africa’s Test against Zimbabwe, where the Proteas captain walked off unbeaten on 367, just 34 runs short* of Brian Lara’s legendary 400 record*.

Mulder made headlines not just for his colossal innings but for choosing to declare at Lunch on Day 2, citing “respect for Lara” as the reason for stopping short of history. The South African skipper said he believed some records were too iconic to chase — a gesture that stirred mixed reactions online.

Speaking ahead of England’s third Test against India at Lord’s, Stokes responded with a smile and a touch of humour.

“Fair play to him. I think he said something about the record staying with Brian Lara,” Stokes said. “He’s not going to get that opportunity again (laughs). But no, fair play to him. They got the win, which is the big thing that counts.”

Mulder’s decision, while controversial, didn’t hurt the team’s performance. South Africa declared at 626/5 and went on to dismantle Zimbabwe, bowling them out for 170 and 220 across two innings to secure an innings and 236-run victory in Bulawayo.

While many fans applauded Mulder’s sportsmanship, others debated whether such humility should trump rewriting cricketing history. Regardless of opinion, the moment added a unique twist to the ongoing conversation about individual records versus team success in the modern era.