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Neil Wagner (Photo by Phil Walter / Getty Images)
Fast launcher Neil Wagner was hailed as an “inspiration” on Wednesday after he shrugged off the pain of two broken fingers to help New Zealand to victory in the first Test.
A Shaheen Afridi Yorker broke two toes on Wagner’s right foot during New Zealand’s first inning but, surviving on painkiller and sand injections, he threw 21 overs in the first inning for Pakistan and 28 in the second for a run of four fields.
Wagner crucially eliminated Fawad Alam by 102 points during a marathon of 11 more at the end of the fifth day to extinguish Pakistan’s hopes of a surprise victory. New Zealand finally won by 101 runs, 27 balls since the close.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said it was an incredible performance, although Wagner’s heart was well known within the team.
Pakistan’s captain, Mohammad Rizwan, said: “I just told him he’s crazy. He’s a different guy.
“His attitude is everything, his aggression is very pretty.”
Pakistan hitter Azhar Ali also said he had “great respect” for Wagner.
“I told him that, that’s what it means to play for his nation,” Azhar said.
“I think he’s showing that and he’s an inspiration, everyone knows he doesn’t have one but two broken fingers and he’s fighting for his team.
“He was giving 100 percent and maybe more than that, so I have great respect for him.”
Williamson said trying to get the most out of Wagner before the pain relievers wore off was a unique situation.
“People talk about the size of his heart in terms of what he (normally) does on the cricket field, but he has a couple of broken toes, and he’s in a lot of pain and he’s going to get injections and numb his foot, and we’re treating to use it, “Williamson said.
“It was very, very special for ‘Wags’, something the team appreciated. We needed it and he delivered.”
