"We think your international career is over" - Neil Wagner reveals chat with Gary Stead ahead of NZ vs AUS 2024 Test series

Former New Zealand cricketer Neil Wagner has opened up on how he came to know that his international career had ended. The left-arm speedster revealed in his autobiography 'All Out' that head coach Gary Stead broke the news to him.

One of the most indefatigable pacers produced by New Zealand, Wagner had a penchant for bowling long spells and taking wickets at the same time. However, the veteran fell out of favor with the selectors, who decided to go for young blood for the series against Australia this year.

The southpaw mentioned in his autobiography what Stead told him (as per stuff.co.nz):

"There’s no easy way of telling you this, mate. I’m really sorry, but we are not picking you for the Australia series. We think your international career is over and that you should retire”.

The 38-year-old played an integral role in New Zealand's World Test Championship (WTC) victory over India in the final in 2021. Overall, he finished with 260 wickets in 64 Tests at 27.57, including nine fifers. He announced his retirement on February 27, 2024.

​

"I was suddenly so angry at how this had been handled" - Neil Wagner on his retirement

Neil Wagner. (Image Credits: Getty)

The South African-born player also remarked that it was hard to watch New Zealand and Australia competing in Christchurch from the sidelines and that he had started hating the sport. He added in his autobiography:

"I was suddenly so angry at how this had been handled. Instead of looking back with pride on my test-match achievements — 64 matches, 260 wickets, a member of the inaugural WTC-winning team – all I could think about were the hurtful circumstances of how it ended. For the first time in my life, I found myself hating cricket."

Australia had blanked New Zealand 2-0 in that series, putting their World Test Championship (WTC) final chances in jeopardy. However, a resurgent side under Tom Latham recently stunned India 3-0 in their backyard. The Black Caps will next face England in red-ball cricket in a three-match series.

​