Former New Zealand fast bowler Neil Wagner has signed a four-month County Championship deal with Durham for the upcoming season.
Wagner, 39, played one Championship game and three One-Day Cup matches for Durham last season before being ruled out due to a shoulder injury. The left-arm pacer, who took 260 wickets in 64 Tests, retired from international cricket in February last year as New Zealand’s fifth-highest Test wicket-taker. He announced his retirement from New Zealand's domestic cricket last week but expressed his desire to play county cricket.
"I am extremely excited to join Durham again!" stated Wagner. "I loved and enjoyed my short time their last season, which was unfortunately shortened by injury, but I feel like have some unfinished business with wanting to contribute and play a role for a great club. I met some awesome people during my last time in Durham and can't wait to join up with the lads again and play some exciting cricket."
Welcome back, Wags.👋@NeilWagner13 will return to Durham for the second half of the @CountyChamp this summer. ⬇️#ForTheNorth
— Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) March 31, 2025
Durham will be Wagner’s fifth team in the championship. He has represented Northamptonshire, Essex, Somerset and Lancashire in the past. His upcoming stint for Durham will begin from June 22 against Sussex and will continue till the end of their campaign in September.
Wagner ended his New Zealand domestic career on a high, claiming eight wickets to help Northern Districts win the Plunket Shield for the first time since 2011-12. After taking 3/33 to skittle Otago in the first innings (in reply to ND’s 411/7 declared), he followed up with his 37th first-class five-wicket haul in the second innings, restricting Otago to 134 runs short of their 407-run target.
He finished the with 374 wickets in the tournament, the second-highest tally in its history, behind only Stephen Boock’s 492.
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