Veteran New Zealand seamer Neil Wagner expressed anticipation for renewing his on-field rivalry with Steve Smith in the upcoming two-Test series against Australia. With the Black Caps aiming for their first Test victory over Australia at home since 1993, the 37-year-old is confident in the team’s capabilities to outperform the tourists.
Wagner caused Steve Smith considerable trouble during New Zealand’s three-Test series in Australia in 2019-20. The left-arm seamer has impressive statistics against the former Australian captain, dismissing him five times in seven innings at an average of 16. However, with Neil Wagner retiring from international cricket, fans will no longer get to see these two greats compete against each other.
He’s a class player- Neil Wagner on Steve Smith
In a statement to reporters on Tuesday, the left-arm seamer acknowledged Steve Smith’s status as a world-class batter for a considerable period. However, he expressed confidence in the Kiwi team’s ability to devise effective bowling strategies to counter him.
It’s something I’d looked forward to, but I’ve got full faith in the group that they’ve got what needs to be there to be the Test attack,” Wagner said. “I’ve had a fun against him, but it doesn’t guarantee I’m going to take his wicket again. He’s a class player, and I feel like the team we’ve got will find our way around it. That’s why we’re here, we lean on each other as a bowling group and we come up with plans and we’ll find a way of doing that.”
The Kiwis have not defeated their Trans-Tasman rivals in a Test match anywhere since 2011.
I thought it was the right time to step down- Neil Wagner
Following head coach Gary Stead’s announcement of his omission from the series, Neil Wagner expressed that it was the appropriate moment for him to step down and pave the way for younger players to take over.
I knew the time was going to come,” he said. “The last week, reflecting, looking into the future and the Test matches to come, I thought it was the right time to step down and let the other guys step in. The discussions between myself and Gary after the last Test was that I wasn’t going to be playing in this series, and looking forward and speaking to Gary and a few people, we found this was going to be the right time.”
Australia dominated the Kiwis in the recent T20I series, securing a clean sweep with a 3-0 victory.
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