Despite a broken finger, Wagner worked hard and earned well deserved recognition.
In the early innings of the first test between New Zealand and Pakistan at Bay Oval, Neil Wagner broke his toe while facing Shaheen Shah Afridi. However, the New Zealand workhorse bowled in the second inning despite sustaining the injury and went on to pick up Fawad Alam’s crucial window to open the floodgates for the hosts to go through the lower order.
Alam and Mohammad Rizwan had shared a 165 position for fifth field not only to shore up the innings, but also to give Pakistan a good chance to avoid New Zealand. At that point, Wagner fired Alam with the short ball and kept taking Faheem Ashraf out to leave Pakistan in more trouble.
The effort that went behind the wickets left his Captain Williamson full of praise for Wagner.
“People talk about the size of his heart, maybe, in terms of what he does on the cricket field, but having a couple of broken fingers … he was in a lot of pain and he was going out and getting injections and numbing his foot and we were trying to use it when the injection was working, it was unique to all of us, “said Williamson.
“His appetite and motivation to be there and try to make a difference for the team is huge and we haven’t seen him bigger than the effort he put into this test match. It had an impact on his ability to operate 100 percent, but still he came in and made the breakthrough as he does with us so often when he’s in full force. It was a very, very special effort from Wags, one that the team appreciated. We needed him there and he delivered. “
Williamson also noted that the injury gave Wagner additional motivation to pitch long periods. “It’s pretty hard to get off the ground. He said, ‘When I get the shots, I’ll be much better bowling, okay.’ I was like, ‘What’s different, Neil?’ He loves it, he loves having the ball in his hand and it is very difficult to get it out. “
Mohammad Rizwan also praised Wagner’s ability to throw with sustained hostility, saying: “I can’t explain Neil Wagner. Eleven overs in a row with an injured finger, he’s a different guy. He’s a great pitcher.”
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