The cricket world has been left divided over South African captain Wiaan Mulder’s decision to stand himself down from the opportunity to chase Brian Lara’s most iconic record.

South Africa's stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder scored an unbeaten double century to set a record for a new Test skipper and help his side to a formidable 465 for four wickets on the first day of the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Sunday.

South Africa captain Wiaan Mulder declared when he was 367 not out against Zimbabwe – 33 runs short of Brian Lara’s Test record. The Proteas stand-in skipper smashed 367 from 334 balls as South Africa reached 626-5 by lunch on day two of the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.