Neil Wagner

Neil Wagner is a left-arm fast-medium bowler known for his impactful Test cricket career primarily with the New Zealand national team, bringing a consistent and aggressive bowling style to the international stage. After taking an unprecedented five wickets in a single six-ball over for Otago against Wellington on April 6, 2011, achieving a rare feat in first-class cricket with figures of 6/36, Neil Wagner quickly established himself as a formidable bowler. Wagner, who joined the Otago cricket team in 2008, played 190 matches for the squad over a decade, securing 579 wickets. His consistent performance earned him a spot in the New Zealand Emerging Players team in June 2009, leading to his Test debut for New Zealand in 2012 against the West Indies.

In 2018, he was awarded a new contract by New Zealand Cricket and joined Northern Districts, for whom he continued to play until 2025. Throughout his career, Wagner also played for several county teams, including Northamptonshire (2014), Lancashire (2016), Essex (2017–2018), and Somerset (2023). In 2020, he played his 50th Test match against the West Indies and was ranked as the number two Test bowler in the ICC World Rankings, a testament to his impact. He was a crucial member of the New Zealand team that won the 2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship in 2021, a highlight he described as the ‘pinnacle of the game.’ In February 2024, Wagner announced his retirement from international cricket, concluding a distinguished career of 64 Test matches, 260 wickets, and a bowling average of 27.57.

His final domestic match for Northern Districts in 2025 culminated in a Plunket Shield victory, which he noted as a ‘cherry on the top’ for his career. Looking ahead, Wagner has signed to play for Durham from June to September 2025, continuing his professional cricket journey.