Neil Wagner could be in line for a shock comeback for one Test match only about 10 days after announcing his international retirement.
On 27th February, the left-arm New Zealand fast bowler announced his international retirement – he had only played Test cricket for New Zealand – after being told that he wouldn’t be picked in the XI in the two Tests against Australia. But he could turn up for one final time in the Black Caps on March 8 in the second Test against Australia.
This possibility and development comes after Test captain Tim Southee’s comments following a hamstring injury to pacer Will O’Rourke during the first Test against Australia in Wellington, which the hosts lost by a big margin of 172 runs.
22-year-old Will O’Rourke, playing in his second career Test match, walked off the field during Australia’s second innings after picking up a hamstring injury.
There’s a decent chance of a return from retirement for Neil Wagner for one Test
Tim Southee said that he is waiting for reports from the medical team, and he has left the door open with a slim chance for the return of Neil Wagner in the second Test in Christchurch on Friday. Wagner came on the field in the first Test as a substitute fielder and got a huge reception from the crowd.
“We haven’t had a lot of discussions as yet,” Southee said. “We’ll see how Will scrubs up. The physio hasn’t sort of put a timeframe on it or how bad it is. We’ll just wait and see how Will goes over the next couple of days. I’m sure there’ll be an update in the next 24 hours
“We obviously have to go on and make a decision on who comes in and what role we sort of see that playing out in Christchurch. [Wagner’s] had a great reception here over the last week where he got a couple of moments on the field and obviously he’s been a fan favourite for a long time.”
New Zealand don’t have any other seamer in their squad right now apart from Neil Wagner. So if Will O’Rourke indeed gets ruled out from the second Test match, it is expected that the Kiwis would rather call Wagner out of retirement for one more Test match – which would serve as his farewell game – than play someone who wasn’t in the initial squad in the first place, more so when they are 1-0 down and looking to avoid a series loss at home.
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