Neil Wagner

New Zealand|Bowler
Neil Wagner
INTL CAREER: 2012 - 2024
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Full Name

Neil Wagner

Born

March 13, 1986, Pretoria, Transvaal

Age

38y 6d

Batting Style

Left hand Bat

Bowling Style

Left arm Medium fast

Playing Role

Bowler

An indefatigable left-arm seamer, Neil Wagner is among several South African-born recruits plying their trade in New Zealand and, latterly, in English county cricket. Although not express pace, Wagner's strength is an ability to swing the ball combined with a tenacious attitude. Once known only for his new-ball exploits, Wagner has added reverse swing to his repertoire to become a more complete bowler, capable of taking wickets even in unhelpful conditions.

After a four-year stand down period to be eligible for New Zealand, Wagner, a Test match specialist, struggled to regularly make the first choice XI early in his international career. A match haul of 8 for 126 in a 40-run victory over India at Eden Park in February 2014 demanded a more regular selection.

Wagner's heroics in Christchurch against Australia in 2016 epitomised him as a cricketer. He suffered a broken bowling knuckle on the ring finger of his bowling hand while trying to hold a catch from Joe Burns, but soldiered on through the pain, emerging with then career-best figures of 6 for 106 in Australia's first innings and seven in the match. He was New Zealand's most successful Test bowler statistically in 2016, taking 32 wickets at 21 from seven matches.

Wagner learnt his cricket at Afrikaans High School for Boys in Pretoria and made an impact in his first-class debut in 2005-06 for Northerns, taking two four-wicket hauls. He then toured Zimbabwe and Bangladesh with the National Academy side in 2006-07, and even fielded as the twelfth man in two Tests in Centurion. Despite finishing as the highest overall wicket-taker in the 2006-07 Provincial Challenge (39 wickets), Wagner had to look at other options due to the quota system.

While in England, he nearly landed a contract with Sussex, but opted to try his luck in New Zealand following positive feedback from Canterbury players. The move turned out to be an excellent one as Wagner took 21 wickets for Otago in his opening season, but easily bettered it thereafter: in 2010-11 he was the leading wicket-taker in the Plunket Shield, and in the next season he again topped the charts with 46 wickets at 26.32. A national call-up came soon, when he was named in New Zealand's Test squad for the West Indies tour in 2012.

Wagner has had county cricket spells with Northmptonshire and Lancashire.


ESPNcricinfo staff

Neil Wagner Career Stats

Bowling

FormatMatInnsBallsRunsWktsBBIBBMAveEconSR4w5w10w
Tests641221372571692607/399/7327.573.1352.71390
FC20537641896222998217/3911/11127.163.1951.047362
List A116112564150381765/315/3128.625.3532.01130
T20s868217272483954/334/3326.138.6218.1100

Batting & Fielding

FormatMatInnsNORunsHSAveBFSR100s50s4s6sCtSt
Tests64842487566*14.58168751.86019636190
FC2052715935887216.92658754.47010-102670
List A116631163445*12.1977681.70004815210
T20s864318242369.68195124.10001810110
Neil Wagner

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Recent Matches of Neil Wagner

Photos of Neil Wagner

Neil Wagner gets gratitude from the Wellington scoreboard
Wellington fans give Neil Wagner a tribute
Neil Wagner came on as a substitute fielder to loud applause
Neil Wagner during the national anthem following his Test retirement
Neil Wagner announced his retirement in a press conference with Gary Stead
Neil Wagner called curtains on a 12-year long Test career