Wiaan Mulder is a talented all-rounder for the Proteas cricket team, but he knows he needs to improve his batting performance. With a Test average of 22.21, Mulder acknowledges that he needs to score more runs to solidify his place in the team. However, despite his struggles with the bat, both Mulder and his coach, Shukri Conrad, believe that he can continue batting at number three.
Mulder first appeared at number three in November last year, a significant change from his usual middle-to-lower order position. Despite breaking his finger in a match against Sri Lanka, he returned to score 15 runs in the second innings. Since then, he has batted at number three in subsequent matches, including the World Test Championship final against Australia.
While Mulder’s first-class average of 35.86 is respectable, his Test average is lower at 22.21. After 31 innings, he has only managed one fifty and one century. Despite these statistics, Mulder sees himself primarily as a batter and has been working hard to improve his game, especially against the new ball.
In a recent interview, Mulder expressed his desire to contribute more with the bat and learn from experienced players like Joe Root and Steve Smith. He emphasized the importance of scoring runs consistently and not just surviving at the crease. His coach, Shukri Conrad, believes that Mulder is good enough to bat at number three in any Test series, based on his performance in the World Test Championship final.
In the upcoming Test series against Zimbabwe, Mulder is expected to retain his position at number three. The Proteas squad is relatively inexperienced, with David Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne providing more batting depth. Young players like Matthew Breetzke and Lhuan-dre Pretorius will likely be given opportunities in the lower order.
Overall, Mulder is determined to prove himself as a reliable batsman for the Proteas. With hard work and dedication, he aims to improve his batting average and make significant contributions to the team’s success in future matches.
