Neil Wagner brought some theatre to test cricket.
The grunting. The falling over every other delivery. The slightly demented celebrations.
They are as much a trademark of his game as his stunning endurance or the awkward bouncer he speared in at the batter’s ribcage over and over again.
There is not a lower-order batter around the world who will miss said bumper.
The 37-year-old will be sorely missed, though.
Off the park, the competitive left-armer is all please and thank-yous.
But it is the Black Caps who owe Wagner a thank-you.
He made the decision to call time on his test career after a difficult conversation with Black Caps coach Gary Stead last week, who indicated he was not in the first-choice XI for the series against Australia.
It cannot have been easy to get the ball out of his hand.
The Black Caps have waved off a wonderful competitor, who ran in perhaps even harder at the end of the day 5 as he did at any other time in the match.
He was indefatigable.
Our favourite adopted South African was rewarded for his mahi with 260 wickets at an average of 27.57.
That makes him New Zealand’s fifth-leading wicket-taker.
His strike rate of 52.7 puts him even further up the list. Of the New Zealanders who have taken more than 100 test wickets, only Richard Hadlee (50.8) has a superior strike rate.
He also helped win 32 of the 64 tests he played in.
Wagner moved from South Africa to Dunedin in 2008 to pursue his dream of playing international cricket.
Shortly after arriving in the city the 22-year-old gave the Otago Daily Times an insight into his mentality.
"I’m a pretty cool, calm and collected type of guy but I run in hard at the batsman," he told the newspaper.
"I want to make him feel uncomfortable. A batsman should never feel comfortable"
And they never were.
He made his test debut in 2012 and was a key member of the side which claimed the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in 2021.
He moved north in 2018 to play for Northern Districts and will remain available for the association. He has confirmed he will play next season, whether in New Zealand or overseas.
Wagner said the decision to retire from international cricket was not an easy one, but it was the right time to move on.
"It’s been an emotional week," he said.
"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 ... 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.
"My team-mates 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’m looking forward to one final week in camp and will be doing everything I can to help prepare and support the boys.
"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.
"His accuracy, execution and tenacity has been instrumental in many of our great test victories and he will always be remembered for his lion-hearted nature.
"Neil gave absolutely every thing to the Black Caps and we are certainly going to miss his energy and never-give-in attitude."
Neil Wagner
Test record
- 64 games
- 260 wickets at 27.57, including nine five-wicket bags
- Best bowling (innings): 7/39
- Best bowling (match): 9/73
- 875 runs at 14.58
- High score 66 not out
