Wean Mulder has established himself as a reliable all-rounder for South Africa, ready to take on any task and often delivering results under pressure. His willingness to take on challenging roles was demonstrated during the match in Kingsmead, where he took 4/68, helping Proteas maintain their chances in the game, despite Australia's final score of 390.
It was particularly impressive that Mulder learned on the morning of the match that he would lead the attack in the absence of Kagiso Rabada. He noted that he considers this role suitable for his skillset when the ball is moving, and expressed pleasure at the opportunity.
There were moments when Mulder looked like the strike bowler South Africa needed. One such moment was when he dismissed Mitchell Starc in the second half of the morning, managing to deviate the second new ball sufficiently from the left-hander's outside edge, hitting the stumps. This delivery showcased the control and movement of the ball, which have become Mulder's main strengths.
The all-rounder believes that adding some extra pace has strengthened his game. He admitted that he has always tried to bowl faster because many media outlets wrote that he was not fast enough, but emphasized that there have been very successful bowlers with his speed, and that the main thing is to accept oneself and do one's best in every match.
Although he could not achieve a five-wicket haul when Australia made an impressive recovery from 124/6, Mulder did not want to focus on South Africa's errors. He stated that the team played well and executed most of the plans, adding that perhaps they could have bowled a bit fuller, but that was discussed before Matt Renshaw came out.
After his bowling work, Mulder can make a significant contribution with the bat as South Africa tries to compensate for Australia's advantage. The all-rounder believes that the pitch still offers opportunities for scoring runs, provided Proteas can survive periods favorable to seam bowlers. He noted that the toughest sessions usually occur at the end when darkness sets in and the lights come on, the ball moves more.