Neil Wagner hopes of making it to the New Zealand ODI side ahead of the World Cup

New Zealand’s left-arm pacer, Neil Wagner, is hoping to make a cut into the ODI side soon after doing well in the Test arena for a long time. Having played 36 Test matches for his country, the fast bowler is yet to make his debut in the white-ball formats despite bowling with more pace when compared to his teammates, Trent Boult and Tim Southee. However, Wagner wants to stay focused and do the basics right and hopes that the results will follow.

He has picked 149 wickets in 36 Tests for New Zealand at an impressive average of 28.26 to go with five five-wicket hauls to his name. Wagner recently played in England’s domestic One-Day Cup for Essex and fared decently. He has scalped 163 wickets in 104 Lisa A games so far and deserves an opportunity with the World Cup looming within the next few months.

I always wanted to play white-ball cricket

“It [white-ball cricket] is something that I’ve always wanted in my life. I think there was a period of time where I put way too much pressure on myself in wanting to achieve it too much, and trying too hard to get there, and felt like I had to set the world on fire. And the more you tried the less success you had,” he was quoted as saying by stuff.co.nz.

Meanwhile, Neil Wagner will turn 33 in March 2019 and is completely aware of the fact that his chance to play in the coloured clothing might never come. He feels that if he thinks about it, his focus will divert which will affect his performances on the field.

“Sometimes I feel like I am dreaming, because it’s probably not going to happen, and I’m not getting any younger, and the guys there have been doing an amazing job. If I pay too much attention to that you sort of lose focus on the things you do well, so for me it’s just to keep contributing and doing what I do best, and hopefully that opportunity arises,” Wagner added.

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