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The Black Caps are heading into the fifth day of a test match for the first time since drawing England in Hamilton last December, seven tests ago, and they don’t know what they can get from Neil Wagner, who normally would. be prepared for a leading role.
The tireless left arm learned on Tuesday the fourth day that he did not have a fractured toe, but two, in his right foot, but after two sets of warm-ups, one before an analgesic injection, another after, he managed to overcome six overs Bowling slower than normal, but still causing some problems.
He limped off the field and into the pavilion at Bay Oval on Mount Maunganui once it was over, and he is ready to go on Wednesday as the Black Caps hunt down seven more wickets to secure a first Test win against Pakistan.
Phil Walter / Getty Images
Black Cap Neil Wagner threw 21 overs with a broken finger during Pakistan’s first innings of Test 1.
Wagner had made it clear at the end of the third day, after throwing 21 overs in Pakistan’s first innings and winning 2-50, that he was going to persevere through the pain, ‘unless they take me on a stretcher’, so it was It is not surprising that the confirmation of a second break did not worry him.
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What was concerning to many viewers was the pain he was clearly in as he warmed up for Pakistan’s second inning and his reaction to the bowling was captured by Spark Sport’s cameras.
His second warm-up, post-injection, took place in the nets at the back of the field, where only a couple of spectators stopped to watch him throw around a dozen balls, although with less intensity than normal.
Pakistan hitter Azhar Ali was not out at 34 on his 71-3 side, chasing 373 to win, or looking to hit on the fifth day and secure a draw, and said he had great respect for Wagner’s efforts.
“I told him that, that’s what it means to play for your nation. 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.
“When we started the innings, we thought that was it. He was in pain when he was warming up, obviously you see all of that on TV these days, but he came back and bowled, which shows a lot of character and a lot of people will learn a lot from him.
“He was giving 100 percent and maybe more than that, so I have great respect for him.”
Wagner’s fast bowling teammate Tim Southee said, “He just personifies him as a guy.”
“He will do anything for the team and we are looking at it right now.
“He has that ‘I care-after-the-test-match’ mentality and it’s something we all admire about him.
“Hopefully he has a big boost in tomorrow, and then we can re-evaluate the course forward, but it’s been a tremendous effort on his part so far.”
Wagner suffered the fractures when he was hit on the right foot by Pakistani Shaheen Shah Afridi’s left arm while batting on the second day, where he contributed 19 to the Black Caps’ total of 431 first innings.
Phil Walter / Getty Images
Black Caps closer Neil Wagner celebrates after taking the Fawad Alam wicket during Pakistan’s first innings.
The initial diagnosis was that she had a displaced fracture of the fourth toe, but a detailed report from a radiologist revealed that she also had one on the fifth little finger.
