Wagner made the decision to retire after coach Gary Stead indicated that he would not be considered for the first Test,as the Black Caps seek to inject more youth into the team. He is a guest of the home squad this week and will be released ahead of the second match in Christchurch.
Neil Wagner dismissed Steve Smith four times in the first two Tests the last time the sides met.Getty Images
Wagner bowled his last ball in a New Zealand shirt on Monday night,albeit in a lighthearted game at the Kiwi Prime Minister Chris Luxon’s reception for both teams.
“They sometimes say when you think about retirement you’re screwed,in a way,” Wagner said. “I knew the time was going to come. The last week,reflecting,looking into the future and the Test matches to come,I thought it was the right time to step down and let the other guys step in.
“The discussions between myself and Gary after the last Test was that I wasn’t going to be playing in this series,and looking forward and speaking to Gary and a few people,we found this was going to be the right time.
“The team invited me to come down here and spend this time with them to celebrate,but also help them prepare for the series and get stuck in against Australia.”
Asked about not having a final chance to duel with Smith,Wagner indicated confidence that other members of the pace attack,such as the promising young speedster Will O’Rourke,would step up.
“It’s something I’d looked forward to,but I’ve got full faith in the group that they’ve got what needs to be there to be the Test attack,” Wagner said of Smith. “I’ve had a fun against him,but it doesn’t guarantee I’m going to take his wicket again.
“He’s a class player,and I feel like the team we’ve got will find our way around it. That’s why we’re here,we lean on each other as a bowling group and we come up with plans and we’ll find a way of doing that.”
New Zealand have other injury concerns. Opening batter Devon Conway is nursing an injured thumb and did not bat on Tuesday,with Stead indicating that he may need to wear a special thumb guard to play. Will Young is the young batter in line to come in if Conway is not passed fit.
Rachin Ravindra eased doubts about soreness in his left knee by completing a net session on Tuesday.
During a thoughtful and grateful farewell address,Wagner was most emotional when he spoke about his family,but also the fitness trainers and support staff who had helped him become arguably the world’s most durable fast bowler. He delivered spell after spell of bouncers when most fast men would tire of such a back-breaking task.
Neil Wagner gets Steve Smith at the MCG in 2019.Getty
“The guys behind the scenes don’t always get the accolades,” Wagner said. “But they were huge with what I did,the training. When you’re not as talented or got the skill sets in the armoury,you’ve got to find something else. It was different and the drive for me is to try to be fit,be strong.
“Those guys helped me and pushed me non-stop in Dunedin in 4 degrees and sleet and ice on the other side of the track. To do those sessions was never easy,but you knew you had to do that,and they were the ones pushing you out of bed to do it,and they were there in the cold with a smile on their face because they knew what it was going to deliver.
“I’ve bowled a lot of overs throughout my life,as a young kid growing up,I wanted to bowl and bowl and do what I did,and I was fortunate my body could do what I did for such a long time,and I wanted to be that guy who could do that into the wind all day for this team. It’s something I’ll look back on and be pretty proud of.”
For Stead,the decision to make a transition away from Wagner was a difficult one,particularly ahead of a fresh bout with Australia.
“They’re very tough conversations to have,” Stead said. “Neil understood,he was very grateful for his time in the Black Cap,which was enormously big of him as well,and it’s taken a bit of time for Neil just to work out what this means for him as well.
“Incredibly tough conversations,especially with the calibre of the guy next to me and everything he’s done for the team.”
News,results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday..