Neil Wagner, New Zealand's Fierce Competitor Calls it a Day

Neil Wagner, the indefatigable tough guy in the New Zealand side has decided that his time is up in Test Cricket. Starting late, after making a move from South Africa, Neil Wagner had a rise as a valuable part of the side which was moving well with Trent Boult and Tim Southee.

New Zealand, a country very conducive to swing is a nightmare for batters early on. For the early stages, New Zealand had Tim Southee and Trent Boult to build pressure and make batters dance to their tunes. As the game goes on though batting tends to become easier in New Zealand with the pitch flattening out and this is where Neil Wagner made his mark.

Running in and sticking to a short-ball barrage for long periods is where he stood out. Over his career he’s gone through long spells, often bowling 8-9 overs on the trot and even doing the same while having broken toes. Day 3 onwards often are the easiest to bat in New Zealand. It is at that stage that Neil Wagner became a nightmare for batters. His success was not limited to home though.

In 2019, when New Zealand toured Australia for what was a tough tour, Neil Wagner stood out. The Australians found it easy against the rest of the New Zealand line-up but Neil Wagner kept chipping away. He gave Steve Smith a tough time in that series as well while doing all this operating in the 130 KPH range. His speed is another aspect that made him stand out. While Neil Wagner bowled some nice short-balls, he did so at medium speeds relying solely on accuracy.

With another series against Australia coming up though some tough discussions took place. The New Zealand management has decided that Neil Wagner’s time could be coming close to an end with his last year being rather quiet. While Neil Wagner played a central role in the famous one-run win against England last year, taking the last wicket, the sting in his bowling has reduced.

With new bowlers coming up chances too have gone down. In the last year, Neil Wagner has only played two Test matches. With New Zealand looking at the future Neil Wagner has decided to go through an emotional phase. He calls time after being one of the most competitive New Zealand Cricketers. Not the most physically gifted, Neil Wagner remains one who will be remembered really well among the New Zealand cricket team.