The International Cricket Council confirmed yesterday the South African-born 26-year-old, who plays for Otago, was now able to play for New Zealand after a positive ruling on two applications for exceptional circumstances.
The regulations state that a player must reside in the relevant country (New Zealand) for a minimum of 183 days for four consecutive years to qualify.
Wagner moved to New Zealand in 2008 but missed the required number of days twice - once due to his participation in the IPL in India while representing Otago and the other for a family wedding.
New Zealand Cricket, on behalf of Wagner, submitted applications to the exceptional circumstances committee which then made a recommendation to the ICC cricket committee chairman, Clive Lloyd, and they were subsequently approved.
Wagner topped the wickettaking standings in the Plunket Shield this summer as he claimed 46 scalps at an average of 26.32, including seven for 46 in the first innings of the final game of the season against Wellington.
New Zealand meets the West Indies in a lengthy six-week tour, which starts in June, encompassing two twenty/20 internationals in Florida, before the sides play five onedayers and two tests in the Caribbean and Wagner said he desperately wanted to be there.
‘‘Yeah, most definitely. That's what I've been working for for the last four years,'' he said from South Africa, where he is on holiday.
‘‘I've been working very hard, especially with the Otago team, to keep putting performances on the board and keep putting pressure on and, hopefully, the selectors will look at that now I've become eligible to be picked.''
Wagner said he wanted to represent New Zealand in all three forms of the game and believed his ability in the limited-overs disciplines was improving.
‘‘I haven't had the success I would have liked to in the oneday form but I still believe it's one of my best formats and I look forward to growing a bit more in to it and getting more consistent with it. Hopefully, I get a chance with that somewhere and I can prove that.''
Wagner said it was a weight off his shoulders to have the whole issue finally cleared up.
