Birthday special: Neil Wagner – Top 3 spells in international cricket

New Zealand’s left-arm pacer Neil Wagner often flies under the radar due to the presence of star new ball bowlers Tim Southee and Trent Boult. A South African by birth, Wagner gives his all whenever he takes onto the field and is among one of the hardest Kiwi cricketers of all time. He made his Test debut in 2012 and has been a regular in the red-ball side ever since then. On his 37th birthday, we list some of his most memorable outings for the Kiwis.

5/44 against England, 2019

England travelled to Mount Maunganui to take on hosts New Zealand in the first Test match of the series. The visitors, led by Joe Root, batted first in the match after winning the toss. The visitors made a decent start to their innings but a mini-collapse in the middle order saw them end their innings for 353 runs. While Tim Southee led the way with a four-wicket haul for the Kiwis, Neil Wagner returned with valiant figures of 3/90. New Zealand posted a mammoth score of 615 runs in their reply on the back of BJ Watlings’ glorious double century. England were on the ropes, and Wagner ensured his side’s victory with a magnificent 5/44 in the third innings, ending with eight wickets to his name in the series opener.

6/41 against Zimbabwe, 2016

The gulf of the class showed when New Zealand took on minnows Zimbabwe in the first of two Tests in Bulawayo. The Kiwi bowled first in the game and managed to restrict the home side to a paltry total of 164 runs, thanks to a blistering fast bowling spell of 6/41 by Wagner. The visitors made a giant total of 576 runs in their reply on the back of centuries from three Kiwi batters. New Zealand were all over the hosts and wasted no time in securing an easy victory after bundling out Zimbabwe for 295 runs in their second innings.

7/39 against West Indies, 2017

Wellington hosted the first Test match of the series between New Zealand and the Windies. The visitors made a decent start to the match after being put into bat by their counterparts. Neil Wagner opened the floodgates for the home side after dismissing Kraigg Brathwaite and accounted for five of the top six Caribbean batters, reducing the tourists to a meagre 134 runs in their first innings. Wagner returned to pick another three wickets in the second innings, ending with nine wickets to his name as New Zealand ran out comfortable winners.