Neil Wagner is a one-of-a-kind bowler who is admired for his ability to adapt, tenacity and unlimited energy, making him one of the great first-change bowlers of our time. Noted cricket writer Jarrod Kimber best described him as “a first-change, short, slowish, left arm long spell, bouncer specialist.”
Not glowing in praise, but the key being Wagner is a bouncer machine who will wear down a batsman with his unrelenting attack. Steve Smith can testify to Wagner’s ability after being dismissed by him four times from four innings in the 2019 series.
Even though the fields were set to suggest what Wagner would bowl, Smith and other batsmen could not handle him. Because of his stamina, batsmen know they will never wear him down and it must be tiresome facing continuous short-pitched deliveries.
Wagner bowls more bouncers than anyone else and takes considerably more wickets with his short bowling and is well supported by his catchers. As his namesake Richard Wagner revolutionised opera, Neil Wagner has left his imprint on first-change bowling.
Oh, and by the way Neil prefers his last name to be pronounced in an English style, rather than an Afrikaans one, Wagner not ‘Vaggner’.
After the Black Caps’ new ball attack of Tim Southee and Trent Boult (or his replacement) have tired, Wagner takes over and bowls the next 20 overs, and he then continues to bowl right through until the second new ball is taken. This demonstrates his importance to the Black Caps and his inspirational feats make him a respected and well-liked member of the squad.
Wagner was born 1986 in Pretoria, South Africa. He attended Afrikaans Seuns Hoerskool and growing up was familiar with Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers. His idols were Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock, emulating everything they did. Even though he played for the South African Academy side and was 12th man for South Africa, he had limited opportunities ahead of him because of some rather good bowlers.
A move overseas was the solution to gaining a Test career. England came close, but he moved to New Zealand in 2008.
Wagner served a four-year stand down period before he could be eligible to play for the Black Caps and was awarded his first Test in 2012. He struggled to hold his place, however, but did become the “workhorse” as a third seamer, looking to cement his place.
He needed to find his niche compared to Boult and Southee and it came in a match versus India when he took eight wickets, six with the short ball. He was away. Add in courage shown when bowling with injuries such as broken toes and he was a regular member of the side.
Neil Wagner celebrates taking a wicket against England. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
In 2019 against Australia, he became the second-fastest New Zealander to take 200 wickets behind Sir Richard Hadlee and he has gained the admiration of Australian and world cricketers for his undying stamina. No one else can bowl in his style and continually take wickets. “He’s an absolute machine,” said Travis Head.
Wagner is recognised as one of the greatest first-change bowlers, taking the second-most wickets of any seamer without using the new ball. He is one of 13 seamers to have taken over 100 wickets bowling first-change or lower. Five of those 13 are all-rounders.
When he left for New Zealand, he was stamped as a traitor and a sell-out by South Africans but Wagner is adamant in his praise of New Zealand and his gratitude towards his new country. “If you want to give your all for your team, you have to sever all emotional ties with your old country,” said Wagner.
“I had to cut the cord connecting me to South Africa. New Zealand has welcomed me with open arms and I will always be grateful.”
Recently he has won a match for New Zealand playing with a bulging disc and torn hamstring versus Sri Lanka and also took the winning wicket against England in one of the great Tests.
Wagner is different as he does not bowl like a conventional bowler and has carved out a role for himself in New Zealand. He has the heart of a lion, never concedes and as Ricky Ponting says is the heartbeat of the Black Caps and a captain’s dream.
Neil Wagner, one of my favourite cricketers.
Pop
Roar Rookie
Yes I can picture Mark Wood in 2023 Ashes around the wicket employing same tactics into Smith’s ribs. Drying up runs and frustrating him just like Wagner did.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Hahahahahaha, that’ll teach me to make comments on an opinion site…..a week ago, then, won’t it?
But what you don't get is that what you say is not opinion, it's rubbish. Big difference.
Mountie
Roar Rookie
Depends on your view of resurrecting body line bowling. Wagner seems to have got away with what other bowlers may not consider as cricket because he is slower and shorter than other quicks. But in the end his tactic still relies on relentlessly targeting the body/head.
Soyaib Zihad
Roar Rookie
He is someone like an awsome force of nature. Truely, remarkable bowler of our time.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
It is a fine line between giving a new boy a go and letting the incumbent stay on, get it, wrong and you will stuff up someone's career.
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Agreed with his all-round promised but he needs surgery. We won't see Kyle till next season; back surgery can mean action change and could affect his value...
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
He certainly did help out the team in the fourth innings after Williamson and Latham wiped off the majority of 250 in 40 over Wagner and Henry fed the Poms which required the follow on. Certainly played his part. You've missed everything else I said, but hey, it's an opinion site, your prerogative.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Matt Wagner's spells to Smith and co in Australia after the ashes draw when Australia won pretty easily we're pretty amazing . He was troubling an inform smith with the short balls after archer gate in England . excellent bowler underated .
Targa
Roar Rookie
He was actually more of a 4th seamer than 3rd for NZ as De Grandhomme would come on after Boult and Southee and swing the newish ball a bit. Then Jamieson (more talented than all three of Boult, Southee, and Wagner) became 3rd seamer when selected. Wagner has been a great bowler, but he has lost a yard or two of pace and has been too hittable as a result. Rather than going back to Wagner, NZ needs to get big Kyle fit again and invest in some of our exciting young seamers.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Hadlee was 3 bowlers at once; at times.
It was Wagner's spell on the second test against England that won the match. That good enough for you?
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Fair enough, should have used them against the Poms then, because I didn't see any evidence of it.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
Thanks Riccardo Maybe Southee is an admirer of Jimmy Andersons career? I don’t believe NZ has had three better bowlers at once?
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Nice piece Peter. The sad truth is the Test bowling triumvirate that has helped NZ snare so many 20 wicket bags to win and make the celebratory trip up Mt Victoria so many times is nearing its end. Boult plies his wares for T20 sides to set up his family after a stellar career and is unlikely to be selected, even when he is available. Tim is fit and leads the side but he is 34 and can't have much more than a season in him. Neil is 37. Despite his huge leonine heart it's difficult to see more than a season in him either. He looks to be slower, more injury prone, and his short stuff may not be as useful in the mid 120s k/ph. What is remarkable about Neil is how he made that 1st change his. His fitness and reliability. Never really quick, his accuracy with the short ball is second to none and allowed him to flex his full repertoire to wrinkle out good batsman over his career with guile. Having heard predictions of his imminent retirement given age and injury he rejoindered that he's not ready to hang up his boots and will come back stronger and fitter next season. Testament to his steely determination and the man himself. NZC has a significant task in replacing these guys who will go down in the record books as a force to be reckoned with at their peak. Honed under Shane Bond, another great, they have been wonderful servants of the the game. Wags very much deserves his place in that discussion...
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Might just be . The last series win over Aus in South Africa both Kyle Abbott and Riley Rossouw jumped ship immediately after , taking the Kolpak route knowing full well they were kissing their International careers goodbye . But that apparently had everything to do with tensions between the two and then coach Russell Domingo . Domingo also took huge exception that they texted him their intentions . Didn’t even bother to do it personally .. Both were key performers that series.
Sylvester
Roar Rookie
Wagner didn't have a great series, but he's definitely not one-dimensional. He's really upped his fuller delivery count in recent seasons and has both weapons up his sleeve.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
He is the sort of bloke who would have two broken legs and two dislocated shoulders and he would say he's right to go, and still perform as if he was 100%. He brings loads of energy and its easy to see he just loves competing. He's like Robert Wagner in Austin Powers: a great number 2
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
JN Apparently it was on social media, surprise surprise he copped a bit and from old school mates. I didn't see anything about being a school teacher. Maybe an article in there about South Africans playing overseas?
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Would've taken a number of injuries for him to feature . Also he seemed to thrive in NZ conditions and the general dynamics of society there better than he did here . I think safe to say unlikely he would've played any International cricket if he remained .