NZ vs AUS 1st Test: After Announcing His Retirement, Kiwi Pacer Neil Wagner Steps in as a Substitute Fielder

Neil Wagner stepped onto the field in a different role during Day 1 of the first Test against Australia at Wellington. The pacer was the substitute fielder during the fixture and received a warm reception from the home crowd.

The 37-year-old veteran had earlier announced his retirement from International cricket after the team management had announced that they would not pick the veteran pacer as a starter. Despite the pacer being out of the starting eleven, he remains a professional and has continued to help prepare his side for the visiting WTC champions, Australia.

New Zealand fielded a four-man pace attack, which included captain Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Scott Kuggeleijn, and 22-year-old prospect William O’Rourke. At the close of play, Australia had brought up 279 runs on the board for the loss of nine wickets, with Cameron Green notching up his second Test ton and remaining unbeaten on 103.

While Neil Wagner will not be playing for the 2021 World Test Championship winners, he will continue to feature for Northern District in the domestic circuit. A veteran of 64 Tests, the South Africa-born bowler picked up 260 wickets at an average of 27.57, which included nine 5-wicket hauls.

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Neil Wagner broke down into tears at his press conference, stating that it was extremely tough for him to digest the fact that he won’t be featuring for his country in international cricket anymore.

“I knew the time was coming near. They sometimes say when you think about retirement, you’re screwed in a way. I knew the time was going to come and it was going to come close. In the last week, reflecting and looking into the future, looking at the Test matches that are to come, I thought it was the right time to step down and let the other guys come in and do what we’ve been doing as a group for many years and grow that attack,” a teary-eyed Neil Wagner said earlier.

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“It’s never easy. It’s an emotional road. It’s a big rollercoaster. But it’s something that I feel like the time [has] come to pass that baton on and leave that Black Cap in a good place for the rest to take it and hopefully grow their legacy forward,” he concluded.