How much of a hit would your self-esteem take if you were not picked for the same format of cricket, even if you had only played that format of the game your whole cricketing career?
Neil Wagner retirement
New Zealand fast bowler Neil Wagner used to play only one format of cricket (Test format) in his entire career, which is called the longest format, but the selectors selected Neil Wagner for the two-Test series against Australia only for the first Test and then told that he has been dropped from the playing XI before the second Test match.
It is obvious that when Wagner was informed by the selectors about this, he must have been deeply shocked and sadly, Wagner announced his retirement from international cricket two days before the first Test match against Australia starting on February 29.
Neil Wagner statement during retirement press conference
“It’s been an emotional week. 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. I’ve enjoyed every single moment of playing Test cricket for the Black Caps and am proud of everything we’ve been able to achieve as a team. The friendships and bonds built over my career are what I’ll cherish the most and I want to thank everyone who’s played a part in where I am today,”
“My teammates have always meant the world to me and all I’ve ever wanted to do was what was best for the team – I hope that’s the legacy I will leave. I’d like to thank my wife Lana for her support in helping me be the man I am today and for helping bring our two little girls Olivia and Zahli, and our boy Josh into the world. I’m looking forward to one final week in camp and will be doing everything I can to help prepare and support the boys”
Wagner was born in South Africa and played international cricket for New Zealand. Neil Wagner is a cricketer who used to play only Test matches and he took 260 wickets in 64 Test matches for New Zealand. Wagner played his first Test match against the West Indies in 2012. Five years later, Neil Wagner bowled the best bowling of his Test career against the West Indies and took 7 wickets for 39 runs in a single innings.
Neil Wagner and Cheteshwar Pujara’s Identical Journey
Wagner was part of the New Zealand team in the ICC Test Championship final in 2021 and took 3 wickets in this final match against India. New Zealand’s Neil Wagner and India’s Cheteshwar Pujara are almost identical. Both are almost identical in age. Although Pujara is a batsman and has also played a few ODIs and T20s, Wagner is a fast bowler and has only played Test matches, but both cricketers mostly played the same format and both were ignored by the selectors.
Neil Wagner has announced his retirement but Cheteshwar Pujara is still hoping to return. On the other hand, the New Zealand Cricket Board will also honor Wagner by organizing a ceremony. Neil Wagner became emotional while announcing his retirement and cried and announced his retirement and said that now he wants to give the youth a chance to move forward.
New Zealand bowler Gary Stead stated in response to Wagner’s retirement
“I think it’s taken a bit of time for Neil just to work out what this means for him as well and it’s not retiring from everything. He’s still available for domestic cricket, just retiring from international cricket. But they’re incredibly tough conversations”
Neil’s numbers are phenomenal, but I don’t think we can underestimate his contributions to the team when the chips were down and he found a way to create a wicket. He will always be known for his lion-hearted personality. His precision, execution, and determination have been crucial to many of our great Test triumphs.”