New Zealand pacer Neil Wagner retires from international cricket

Veteran New Zealand pacer Neil Wagner has retired from international cricket, calling time on his 64-Test career, bowing out as the nation's fifth-highest wicket-taker with 260 scalps. Wagner was picked in the squad for the two-Test series against Australia starting in Wellington on Thursday but was told by selectors he would not feature in either the opener or the second match in Christchurch.

He will then be released from the squad before the second Test in Christchurch. This marks his departure from the international cricket scene, leaving behind a legacy of 260 Test wickets, ranking him fifth on New Zealand's all-time charts. Additionally, his remarkable strike rate of 52.7 is surpassed only by the legendary Sir Richard Hadlee amongst New Zealanders with 100 Test wickets or more.

Hailing originally from South Africa, he shifted to Dunedin back in 2008 to join Otago for domestic cricket. Subsequently, in 2018, he moved to Papamoa to play for the Northern Districts. His Test debut occurred against the West Indies at North Sound in 2012, and it was against the same team five years later that he achieved his career-best figures of 7 for 39 in a Test match held in Wellington.

"It's been an emotional week," the South Africa-born 37-year-old said on Tuesday. "It's not easy to step away from something you've given so much to and got so much out of, but it's now time for others to step up and take this team forward."

He made his retirement announcement during a press conference held at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, accompanied by New Zealand's head coach and selector, Gary Stead. Wagner clarified that while he intends to play first-class cricket, he believes the moment has arrived to bid adieu to Test matches.

Wagner also played a major role in helping New Zealand to the inaugural ICC World Test Championship title, with the pacer collecting three wickets in the side that defeated India by eight wickets in Southampton in 2021. "They sometimes say when you think about retirement, you're screwed in a way," he added. "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 several years and obviously grow that attack.

"It's never easy. It's an emotional road. It's a big roller coaster, but it's ... the time 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."