The secret to Wag's wickets

New Zealand pace bowler Neil Wagner in action for Otago against Central Distrcits at the University Oval last season. Photo: Peter McIntosh
New Zealand pace bowler Neil Wagner in action for Otago against Central Distrcits at the University Oval last season. Photo: Peter McIntosh
What is it about Neil Wagner?

He is not very quick.

He mostly bowls a length which eliminates a couple of modes of dismissal.

He does not seem to do a lot with the ball either and yet he keeps taking wickets.

You could mount a compelling argument the former Otago left-armer is New Zealand's greatest seamer since Sir Richard Hadlee.

The statistics certainly lean that way. The 32-year-old became just the eighth New Zealander to take 150 wickets when he dismissed tail-ender Yasir Shah on the second day of the opening test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.

He was the second-quickest New Zealander to the mark, bringing up the milestone in his 37th test.

Hadlee holds the record. It took the great fast bowler 34 tests to nab 150 wickets.

Former Black Caps and Otago coach Mike Hesson knows Wagner better than most.

Hesson was coaching Otago when Wagner made the move from South Africa to Dunedin in 2008 to launch his bid to play international cricket for New Zealand.

He believes Wagner's success is, in a large part, down to his tremendous work ethic.

''He trains incredibly hard so he can get his body to a point where he can sustain that performance over a long period of time,'' Hesson said.

Wagner took a lot of wickets for the Volts while waiting to qualify for his adopted national.

He bowled with the new ball and got swing back then. But he reinvented himself at international level.

With Trent Boult and Tim Southee cemented as New Zealand's opening combination, Wagner's role was to bring energy with the old ball.

His accuracy means he can bowl a challenging length and his extraordinary stamina means he can deliver those bumpers ball after ball.

He bowled 13 overs on the trot to help New Zealand clinch a remarkable four-run win against Pakistan in the first test at Abu Dhabi this week.

''For him to do that in that extreme heat also shows that competitive spirit that he has got.

''You can only do that if you have a massive heart and a willingness to keep chipping away.

''He would have been the first one to say to Kane [Williamson, Black Caps captain] 'just give me one more over'.

''He has done it before for us but to do it in that heat and in that pressure situation was testament to his skill and also his tenacity.

''I certainly haven't coached anyone who has the same sort of engine as Wags does.''

Hesson felt there was more to Wagner than just the accurate short-pitched bowling he has become renowned for.

While he can ''bang away on a flat surface he also has the capability to reverse the ball''.

''If he gets the new ball he can swing it but he does have a lot of different tricks. He really wants to be seen as someone who can provide a number of different qualities.''

Perhaps there is an argument to suggest modern batsmen are not as well-equipped defensively and struggle with the type of short-pitched bowling Wagner employs.

But Hesson felt Wagner's ability was unique.

''Being a left-armer he is able to get you under the hip and he is just so accurate at it.

''He is not a tall bounce bowler, so it is not easy to get under it.

''You don't get a long look at it because it skids at you. And he has an under-cutting release, so it doesn't bounce as much as you think.

''Many players around the world have tried to do what he does but nowhere near as well.''

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