Analysis: Through an incredible work rate, fiery passion and a steely determination, Wagner captured the hearts of fans, and gave the edge the team desperately needed, writes Sean Nugent.
It is a sad day for New Zealand cricket. Neil Wagner, one of our greatest ever bowlers, has called time on his illustrious career.
The 37-year-old has decided to hang up his boots at the end of the Test series against Australia. However, he will not be in the starting XI for the first Test starting Thursday and will be released from the squad ahead of the second Test, meaning his 64-Test career is essentially over.
It has probably come at the right time. He would be the first to admit he hasn't been at his best in the past two seasons, with a drop in pace leading his aggressive bowling style to be less effective.
Wagner became emotional when talking about those who had helped him during his career. (Source: 1News)
But this is not the time to question a man's form, this is a time to celebrate one of New Zealand's legendary sporting sons, one that was the heart and soul of the greatest era in New Zealand cricket history.
Through an incredible work rate, fiery passion and a steely determination, Wagner captured the hearts of New Zealand cricket fans, and gave the edge the team desperately needed.
Originally from South Africa, Wagner came to New Zealand in 2008 after struggling with the quota system and soon made his presence felt. He topped the wicket charts in the Plunket Shield in 2011 and 2012, including a memorable performance where he took five wickets in one over against Wellington.
In those early days he bowled with good pace, regularly above 140km/h, and got the ball to swing both ways.
After a four-year stand-down period, Wagner was given his Black Caps debut against the West Indies in 2012. Yet life at the international level did not prove kind to the left-armer early on. By the end of 2013 his bowling average hovered at 38 - it would take another three years for it to dip below 30.
But after a dozen Tests, he found his role as the aggressive workhorse that complimented the swing bowling duo of Tim Southee and Trent Boult.
A match-winning performance against India at Eden Park in early 2014 threw him into the spotlight. Charging in with the old ball on a flat deck, Wagner flung a barrage of bouncers at India's elite, snicking off Virat Kohli, then centurion Shikhar Dhawan, before a slow bouncer deceived captain MS Dhoni and a fierce bumper proved too much for Ishant Sharma, sealing a famous 40-run victory for the Black Caps.
From then forth, Wagner became the go-to enforcer under captain Brendon McCullum, and his successor Kane Williamson. Over the years he perfected his craft, terrorising opposing teams with short-pitched aggressive bowling that had never been seen before in New Zealand cricket.
On green, seaming wickets he would often stand idly by as Southee and Boult did the damage, but he had plenty of moments in the sun too.
On day one of the first Test against the West Indies at the Basin Reserve in 2017, Wagner took a career-best 7 for 39, bouncing out the touring side on what was a benign pitch, allowing New Zealand to cruise to victory.
Often his impact was not reflected by statistics, either, but was crucial in New Zealand winning exactly half of the Tests he played in.
In 2018, his dismissals of Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes secured a victory over England late on day five at Eden Park, before a courageous 103-ball 7 in the next Test helped the Black Caps escape with a draw and a series win.
Wagner's hero status among New Zealanders grew immensely in the 2019/20 tour of Australia, in what was an otherwise dismal performance from the rest of the side.
Across three Tests, Wagner steamed in each and every delivery, putting his heart on his sleeve as he took 17 wickets at 22, including Steve Smith four out of five times.
While the rest of the bowling attack was toothless, Wagner stunned the Aussies with his aggression and fire. Matthew Wade famously shouldered arms and was struck by dozens of Wagner's bouncers, and said afterwards he'd never faced a bowler who could bowl the short ball so accurately.
The following summer Wagner bowled New Zealand to victory over Pakistan despite having suffered two fractured toes after being struck on the foot while batting. Despite the pain, Wagner steamed in for 28 overs in Pakistan's second innings - the most by any of the New Zealand bowlers - to help his side secure a 101-run victory.
All of these little moments of magic culminated in the 2021 World Test Championship final, where Wagner was part of a seam bowling quartet that proved too much for India's star-studded batting line-up and secured New Zealand cricket's most famous victory.
While perhaps his pace began to wane and his best days were behind him, Wagner's hunger for wickets and sheer willpower continued to be crucial to New Zealand's success.
Last summer, it was Wagner that dragged New Zealand kicking and screaming to a one-run victory over England in Wellington. On the final day, he bounced out England's key batsmen Joe Root and Ben Stokes, before getting James Anderson strangled down the leg side to seal a momentous win.
Wagner will retire with 260 wickets from his 64 Tests, with an average of 27.57. He is the fifth highest New Zealand wicket-taker of all time, while his strike-rate of 52 is only bettered by the great Sir Richard Hadlee among those who have taken 100 Test wickets or more.
More than just the numbers, though, Wagner's determination and passion will be sorely missed from the Black Caps and fans alike. There's no question he was a crucial element and the heart and soul to the golden generation of New Zealand cricket that is slowly fading away.
Thank you for the memories Wags.
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