Wiaan Mulder
Pieter Mulder bats right-handed and is also a right-arm medium-pace bowler. He was born on 19 February 1998 in Gauteng. His ODI debut for South Africa was in October 2017 and Test debut in March 2019. In domestic cricket, Mulder plays for Gauteng and Highveld Lions.
Team played
South Africa, Gauteng, Kent, South Africa A, South Africa Under-19, Highveld Lions, Stellenbosch Kings, Tshwane Spartans
Domestic Career
Mulder’s debut first-class match was in October 2016 for Highveld Lions versus Cape Cobras in the Sunfoil Series. He bagged 3/10 in the first innings and a total of 7 wickets in the match. Before his debut, Mulder represented South Africa in the 2016 U-19 World Cup. He made his T20 debut in November 2016 for Highveld Lions in the CSA T20 Challenge. Mulder’s maiden List A match was in February 2017 in the Momentum One Day Cup.
Highveld Lions picked Mulder in June 2018 in their squad for the 2018-19 season. In September 2018, Gauteng named him in their team for the Africa T20 Cup. Kent signed him in May 2019 for the country championship that year. He played three matches for the county before going for international duty for South Africa.
In September 2019, Tshwane Spartans selected him for the Mzansi Super League. In January 2021, Leicestershire signed him to play county cricket.
International Career
Mulder made his ODI debut at the age of 18 in October 2018 versus Bangladesh in East London. He was picked regularly in South Africa’s Test and T20I squads in 2018 but did not get to make his debut in these formats. His maiden Test was played in February 2019 versus Sri Lanka in Port Elizabeth.
Early Career Details
Highveld Lions’ coach Geoffrey Toyana was highly impressed by Wiaan Mulder when the latter was still at school and offered him a place in his team’s first XI. Mulder was an instant success for the team, bagging 3 wickets in his first match and 4 in the next one. He was still at school at that time and went for training wearing his school uniform.
Mulder then went on to take 7/25 versus the Dolphins and cracked a hundred against the Knights whose attack included Marchant de Lange and Duanne Olivier. Toyana said Mulder was a gem who could bat and bowl brilliantly and he wanted to use the talented player at no.5. Mulder is compared to the legendary Jacques Kallis for his amazing talent.
However, ankle injuries set back Mulder’s career for some time. His weight was 106kg which put pressure on his lower back. His bowling action was also contributing to the stress and had to be rectified to make it less damaging and more efficient. With the help of the right coaches, medical team and physios, Mulder picked himself up and reached new levels.
Records and Facts
Test
As of February 2021, Mulder has played 3 Tests, snaring 10 scalps at a 19.70 average and a 35.4 strike rate. He has scored 36 runs in these matches at a 14.25 average.
ODI
Mulder has starred in 10 ODIs to date, picking up 8 wickets at a 38.50 average, 5.81 economy rate and 39.7 strike rate. He has cracked 74 runs in ODIs at a 14.80 average and an 83.14 strike rate.
T20I
Mulder is yet to make his T20I debut.
