3 best spells of Neil Wagner in Test cricket

Neil Wagner would play a crucial role along with Tim Southee, and Kyle Jamieson to form a strong pace attack against India. Some of the best spells of Neil Wagner for New Zealand are as follow:

2017: New Zealand v West Indies

During the Wellington Test against West Indies in 2017, Neil Wagner registered his best spell. The West Indian team had visited New Zealand for that Test.

Wagner’s first wicket was of West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite and his last was off number 11 Shannon Gabriel. In that Test, Neil Wagner had picked up seven wickets. In just 14.4 overs, Wagner returned figures of 7-39 and the visitors were bowled out all too soon.

Moreover, Colin de Grandhomme’s 74-ball-105 and Tom Blundell’s 107 had helped New Zealand put 520 on board. So, the Kiwis won the Test by an innings and 67 runs. Neil Wagner was named the player of the match for his spell in the first innings.

2016: New Zealand v Zimbabwe

In the 2016 Test against Zimbabwe, Ross Taylor had stolen the show with the bat. But Wagner’s spell of 6-41 had helped stage the set for Taylor and other batsmen of his team.

Neil Wagner’s bowling attack helped bowl out Zimbabwe for just 164 runs. Whereas, New Zealand had posted 576 runs on board with 173 runs from Taylor and centuries from Watling and Latham.

Although Sean Williams put up a fight in the second innings, Zimbabwe lost the Test. New Zealand won it by an innings and 117 runs.

2019: New Zealand v England

In the 2019 Mount Maunganui Test against England, Wagner had an important spell of 5-44. But the highlight of the Test was BJ Watling's double century.

During the two-match test series, England wanted to draw the fifth day of the encounter. But Neil Wagner had other ideas of ending the Test. The left-arm seamer cleaned up the English batting lineup and took their last four wickets. It helped the Blackcaps win an innings victory.

Read more articles