Neil Wagner retires from Worldwide cricket

Wagner fought again tears as he instructed reporters he had determined to name time on a 64-Take a look at profession after New Zealand Cricket mentioned he wouldn’t be within the aspect for Thursday’s match in Wellington.

“It is by no means a simple time to do one thing like this, however the time has clearly come,” mentioned the 37-year-old Wagner, who has taken 260 Take a look at wickets.

“It has been wonderful to symbolize the Black Caps. It has been among the proudest moments of my life.

Fiery short-ball specialist Wagner mentioned he would go away the squad earlier than the beginning of subsequent week’s second Take a look at in Christchurch.

“I am trying ahead to at least one last week in camp and shall be doing every part I can to assist put together and assist the boys,” he mentioned.

Wagner cited final yr’s one-run victory over England in Wellington, the place he took the final wicket to attract the sequence, as amongst his profession highlights together with successful the inaugural World Take a look at Championship in 2021.

“I’ve loved each single second of taking part in check cricket for the Black Caps and am pleased with every part we have been capable of obtain as a workforce,” he mentioned.

Wagner made his New Zealand debut in 2012 after arriving from his native South Africa 4 years earlier.

“To the New Zealand public and the followers, I can not thanks sufficient, to your assist, for making me really feel welcome, for making me really feel like a Kiwi,” mentioned Wagner.

Solely Richard Hadlee, present captain Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori and Trent Boult have taken extra Take a look at wickets for New Zealand than Wagner.

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead mentioned on Tuesday that Wagner was “one of many greats”.

“He has been by an unimaginable period and been an enormous cog of the bowling assault over time.

“We’ll keep in mind his lion-heartedness, the way in which he simply saved discovering a strategy to make one thing occur.”