Mulder moment says CSA still have lessons to learn

Strange things happened on the way to Wiaan Mulder being ruled out of the rest of South Africa's Test series against Sri Lanka on Friday, raising questions whether team management had learnt the lessons offered by instances from the recent past involving Kyle Verreynne and Temba Bavuma.

Had South Africa not been in such a dominant position in the first Test at Kingsmead, the Mulder episode might have overshadowed the team's fine performance. Happily, remedial action ensured that did not happen.

Mulder retired hurt after being hit on the hand by Lahiru Kumara with the 28th delivery of the second day's play in the first Test at Kingsmead on Thursday, when the score was 85/5 and he had faced five deliveries without making a run. Mulder received treatment on the field and tried to soldier on. He faced two more balls before trooping off.

He returned at the fall of the ninth wicket to share 26 with Kagiso Rabada, which helped South Africa reach 191. Mulder faced another five balls for his nine not out – six of them by way of a handsome hoist down the ground off Dhananjaya de Silva.

Ryan Rickelton took Mulder's place in the field for Sri Lanka's reply, which lasted all of 83 balls as they crashed to 42 all out – their lowest total – with Marco Jansen taking 7/13.

That prompted lunch, and with it Mulder being taken for X-rays that revealed a fractured finger. He would, a CSA statement said, "not be able to bowl or field for the remainder of the match. A decision on whether he will bat will be made as the match progresses."

The second sentence became pertinent after Tony de Zorzi was caught on the backward square ropes off Prabath Jayasuriya in the sixth over after tea. In the first innings, Tristan Stubbs had taken guard – as he had done in his previous seven innings – at the fall of the first wicket. Mulder had batted at No. 7 in the first dig. But as De Zorzi made his way to the boundary, Mulder walked to the middle.

In his other 27 Test innings, Mulder had never batted higher than No. 6. Twenty-two of his trips to the crease had been undertaken at No. 7. Yet there he was, broken finger and all, striding out at No. 3. South Africa were 196 ahead with plenty of batting to come. But an injured player was making his way to the wicket. Why? The question was asked by the press, but not answered by management beyond being explained as "tactical".