Neil Wagner, the left-arm fast bowler for New Zealand, will miss the second Test match against Sri Lanka after a scan revealed a torn right hamstring and a bulging disc in his back. Wagner experienced discomfort on Day 3 of the ongoing first Test match between the two teams at Hagley Oval and was sent for scans to determine the extent of his injury.
The absence of Wagner is a significant blow to the Black Caps, as he is a crucial member of their pace attack led by skipper Tim Southee. Matt Henry, Blair Tickner, and Southee himself will be under a lot of pressure to compensate for his absence. To fill the void left by Wagner’s injury, New Zealand has called up right-arm seam bowling all-rounder Doug Bracewell.
Wagner played an instrumental role in New Zealand’s recent home series against England, where he produced wicket-taking spells and secured two fours. The loss of such an effective bowler will be a severe setback for the hosts in their ongoing series against Sri Lanka.
UPDATE | Neil Wagner has been ruled out of the second Dulux Test against Sri Lanka after a scan today revealed he has a bulging disc in his back and a torn right hamstring. Wagner felt pain on Day 3 at Hagley and the scan today revealed the extent of his injuries. #NZvSL pic.twitter.com/P2GMOSaOr3
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 12, 2023
The ongoing Test at Hagley Oval is in a fine balance, with both teams having an equal chance of winning. The New Zealand team is chasing a target of 285 runs in the fourth innings, with a score of 28/1 at stumps on Day 4. They require 257 more runs to win the match and take the lead in the series. On Day 5, much will rest on the shoulders of Tom Latham and Kane Williamson, who are currently batting in the middle.
In the dying moments of Day 4, the hosts suffered a setback when Sri Lankan seamer Kasun Rajitha dismissed opener Devon Conway with a caught and bowled opportunity. Conway was out for an individual score of 5. The Sri Lankan team must win the game to remain in contention for the WTC final race.
