Pieter Willem Adriaan Mulder, known as Wiaan Mulder, born in Johannesburg, South Africa, was unveiled as Essex Men's overseas signing in January.
Mulder agreed a multi-format deal to join the Club ahead of the 2026 season, which will see him feature in Essex colours for both the Rothesay County Championship and Vitality Blast campaigns from April to June. The South African all-rounder will play six red-ball and six white-ball matches for Essex Men during his time at Chelmsford.
The genuine all-rounder brings vast international and domestic experience at 27 years of age. Wiaan made his Test debut for the Proteas against Sri Lanka in 2019, aged just 20, and featured in the series against India at the end of 2025 alongside Simon Harmer.
Mulder was also a key part of the South African side that won the World Test Championship final against Australia in the summer of 2025.
As of January 2026, Mulder has scored 1,253 Test runs in 24 matches at an average of 35.79. With three Test centuries, his highest score came against Zimbabwe when he posted a mammoth 367 not out in July 2025 - placing him in the top five highest individual Test innings of all time. Bowling right-arm seam, the genuine all-rounder is a proven wicket-taker, claiming 38 Test wickets at an average of 26, with best figures of 4–32.
Mulder's talents extend to the white-ball formats too. The 27-year-old has featured in more than 140 T20 matches, scoring nearly 3,000 runs and taking over 70 wickets, with a high score of 83* and best bowling figures of 4–14 respectively.
