http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Neil-Wagner-c79182 fighting hard for Test spot – Cricket News Update
Stressing on the fight he put up during New Zealand’s warm-up match against the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 Board President's XI, medium pacer Neil Wagner expressed the hope that his efforts would enable him to earn a Test debut for the upcoming extended-overs series against
the West Indies.
“It was pretty tough out there”, the 26-year-old said. “The conditions weren't easy at all. So I knew I had to fight hard and obviously I want to show that I'm pretty keen to hopefully get a crack on this tour and I know that opportunity is not going to
come around every time.”
“So this was a perfect opportunity to just try and fight hard and that's what test cricket is about so hopefully I'll get an opportunity in the future to try and do that.”
The left-arm seamer has played a total of 55 first-class matches with 238 scalps to his credit. However, he has yet to make his debut for the national side, although his performance in the Kiwis’ recent tour match, played against the West Indies Board President's
XI from July 20 to 22 in Antigua, may earn him a spot on the playing XI for the upcoming 2-match Test series against the Windies.
Wagner remained the Kiwis’ second-highest wicket-taker, claiming 3 for 65, with an economy rate of 2.50, and teamed up with spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DL-Vettori-c1384 (21.2-6-48-6) to take the opposition down.
They managed to reduce the WICB President's XI to 299/7 by the end of day 2, with Vettori having dismissed the top order comprising http://www.senore.com/Cricket/S-Chanderpaul-c2390 (51), while Wagner
claimed the wickets of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Devon-Cuthbert-Thomas-c53930 (32).
The third and last day saw both bowlers mopping up the tail, with Wagner polishing off skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KAJ-Roach-c1758 (1).
Although the match eventually ended in a draw, with the Kiwis fighting to hold out till the end, Wagner once again chipped in with a vital performance during his team’s second innings. Coming in at number 10, he scored an unbeaten 5 off 57, and stuck it
out at the crease for almost an hour to ensure that the match did not end in defeat for the Black Caps, despite Shillingford’s deadly assault (36-12-77-5).
Following his efforts, the left-armer will be hoping to feature in the playing XI for the team’s upcoming Test, due to be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, from July 25 to 29.
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