EXPLAINED: The Neil Wagner retirement controversy that has the ‘good guys’ of cricket under scanner

Neil Wagner calling time on a 64-Test long career had only come across as a reason to celebrate. A left-arm quick, who epitomised the format over the last decade and was also a key member of the first-ever World Test Championship (WTC) winning squad, was calling it quits.

But since that emotional press conference ahead of New Zealand’s two-Test series against Australia, the retirement has been seen as one that’s been ‘forced’ by the likes of Ross Taylor, leading to speculations regarding tensions in the Black Caps dressing room. One that has seen Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor – the two batters who wrapped up New Zealand’s WTC win in 2021 – at opposing ends.

What happened?

Ahead of the Test series against Australia, Wagner called for a press conference to announce his retirement from the longest format of the game after learning that he hadn’t been added to the squad for the two-Test series.

The decision came in the aftermath of Wagner being in the spotlight during New Zealand’s home series against South Africa last month. In the Hamilton Test, the fiery quick would send off Proteas batter Zubayr Hamza with a finger-on-the-mouth celebration. He was also seen gesturing a middle finger as the team huddled to celebrate the dismissal, however, it’s unclear who the gesture was directed towards.

But despite Wagner announcing his retirement, New Zealand Test captain Tim Southee threw in a curveball following the defeat in the first Test, suggesting that he wasn’t ruling out the serial wicket-taker for a return in the second match. An injury to William O’Rourke had paved the way for what his Australian captain Pat Cummins had termed as ‘world’s shortest retirement’.

However, the hosts have called up the uncapped pacer Ben Sears instead.

Forced retirement?

Speaking on ESPN’s Around The Wicket podcast, former Australia captain Aaron Finch had expressed his shock upon not seeing Wagner make the cut for the ongoing series.

“I couldn’t believe Neil Wagner wasn’t in the XI. I just genuinely thought that he must have been out through a niggle,” Finch had said. “The success he’s had against Australia, particularly (against) Steve Smith over a period of time, you can guarantee that the last wicket partnership wouldn’t have happened if Wagner was there.”

Former WTC winner with the Kiwis, Ross Taylor then went on to suggest,  “I think it all makes sense a little bit now. There’s no sugarcoating it: I think it’s a forced retirement.

“If you listen to Wagner’s press conference, he was retiring, but it was after this last Test match [against Australia]. So he did make himself available,” Taylor said. “And to see that he isn’t selected… I think you do need to plan for the future, but a one-off Test against Australia in a must-win situation, I wouldn’t be looking much further than Neil Wagner. And I’m sure the Australian batters are sleeping easy that he’s not in the side.”

Williamson hits back

Responding the comments made by Taylor, former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson denied that Wagner had been forced to retire.

“I don’t think anybody is forced to retire. Last week, (Wagner) had a fantastic week reflecting on what was an incredible career, and we had some amazing moments in the dressing room and, you know, it didn’t all go perfectly obviously, an on-field performance would have helped,” Williamson was quoted by NZ Herald ahead of the second Test against Australia.

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When asked what he made of the former Kiwi batter’s take on Wagner making himself available for the Australia series, but not being added to the squad, Williamson added, “I’m not involved in those discussions, but from what I gather, he’s now retired.”

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