A Fox In Focus | Wiaan Mulder

A One Day Cup winner with Leicestershire last term, South African star Wiaan Mulder will have his sights set on completing the English white-ball set this time around as the Foxes seek a record-breaking fourth T20 title.

His short-form performances back home have certainly provided great confidence that the all-rounder is perfectly primed for another trophy-winning summer, with Mulder named in the SA20 Team of the Tournament following his stunning run of form for Durban Super Giants.

The 2022 Leicestershire Player of the Year scored 297 runs at a healthy average of 37.13, as he fired Durban to February’s final. The side came up short on the day, despite Mulder top-scoring with a quickfire 38 off 22 deliveries.

He shone as a finisher, but also as a middle order safeguard who could come in during the powerplay and lay a platform. Such performances earned him the nickname ‘crisis man’ as he rescued his side from a precarious position on no few than six occasions “ including the final where he arrived at the crease 7/3.

Despite his ability to construct watchful foundations, breakneck speed was also a theme of his knocks, with Mulder posting an eye-catching strike rate of 157.14 across the campaign.

It’s a characteristic he’s lifted into the ongoing CSA T20 Challenge, averaging 32.2 and striking at 135.29 from his six innings in the competition so far. His 43 off just 20 balls took his Lions side to within two runs of victory against Warriors on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old has also dazzled during his time as a Fox in T20 cricket. His addition to the side at the back end of the 2022 Vitality Blast saw Leicestershire win five matches from six “ with Mulder averaging 25 while striking at just under 140.

In that spell, he also picked up five wickets and equalled the Club record for most catches in an innings (four) during the Foxes’ emphatic win over East Midlands rivals Notts Outlaws.

The South African star backed up such glimpses upon his return to Uptonsteel County Ground last summer, topping Leicestershire’s T20 averages (30.6), and finishing second only to Rishi Patel (390) for runs (306).

Those numbers housed his best-ever T20 return with the bat too, as Mulder scored a career-best 83 not out at what’s fast becoming a happy-hunting-ground - Trent Bridge “ the scene of Leicestershire’s historic Metro Bank One Day Cup triumph in September.

In an underwhelming 2023 T20 summer for the Foxes, Mulder was undoubtedly a shining light ahead of what promises to be a much-improved 2024 campaign for Alfonso Thomas’ new-look Leicestershire.

If he can carry his white-ball form in his luggage on May’s journey from Johannesburg, the Foxes’ push for further T20 glory will certainly soar into full flight.

To watch Wiaan in action for the Foxes in the Vitality Blast this summer, secure your tickets HERE, or pick up a White Ball Pass HERE.