Neil Wagner suddenly retired from international cricket: Neil Wagner, one of only five New Zealand bowlers to take more than 250 Test wickets, has decided to retire from international cricket with immediate effect. New Zealand Cricket said in an official statement on Tuesday that the left-arm fast bowler will not be in the starting eleven for the first Test at the Selo Basin Reserve and will be released from the team ahead of the second Test in Christchurch. This will end a brilliant career spanning 12 years and 64 Tests.
The 37-year-old will continue to ply his trade in domestic cricket for Northern Districts, whether in New Zealand or overseas.
Neil Wagner, a role model for the New Zealand captains he played under, would finish his career fifth in the list of New Zealand's top Test wicket-takers with 260 wickets at an average of 27. His strike rate of 52 is only better than this. The first to take more than 100 Test wickets is New Zealand's great Sir Richard Hadlee (50). Wagner won 32 of his 64 Test matches and took 143 wickets at an average of 22 in those wins.
Born in South Africa, he moved to Dunedin in 2008 to play domestic cricket for Otago, before moving north to Papamoa, his current home, to play for Northern Districts in 2018.
'I have enjoyed every moment of playing Test cricket for the Blackcaps and am proud of what we have achieved as a team. I will cherish the friendships and bonds formed throughout my career most and I want to thank everyone who has played a role in where I am today. My teammates have always meant a lot to me and I've always wanted to do what's best for the team - I hope that's the legacy I leave.'
