The extraordinary cricket career of Neil Wagner could take yet another twist this weekend, when the BLACKCAPS play their first cricket test against South Africa at Tauranga’s Bay Oval.

The picturesque ground is Wagner’s adopted home turf, with the South African-born left-arm seamer having moved just down the road to Pāpāmoa from Dunedin six years ago.

It’s been the scene of some of the biggest moments in his storied career – taking 5/44 to help beat England in the first-ever test at the ground in 2019, then helping bowl New Zealand to victory over Pakistan with two broken toes a year later.

And with his 38th birthday in sight, after he and wife Lana recently welcomed their third child Joshua, the lion-hearted Wagner is looking forward to a big shift against his former compatriots.

“I really love the life we’ve made in New Zealand and particularly here in the Bay and it will be another proud moment if I get to play at home, in front of a big crowd, against South Africa,” says Neil.

“Tauranga does a great job of hosting international teams and showcasing what a special part of the world this is – and I know the BLACKCAPS and our fellow internationals really enjoy playing here.”

Bay Oval has also been the scene of plenty of recuperation for Wagner recently – he hasn’t played a test match in nearly a year, with the final-ball thriller against Sri Lanka his last appearance for NZ.

Battling a bulging disk in his back and a torn right hamstring, which severely limited his bowling contribution, Neil – on his 37th birthday – was there right at the end, scrambling a bye off the final ball of the match with skipper Kane Williamson to help NZ to a two-wicket win.

Two weeks earlier, he took 4/62 – including the crucial last wicket of Jimmy Anderson – as the BLACKCAPS became only the fourth team in history to win a test after following on, and the second to win by a one-run margin, at the Cello Basin Reserve.

“Last season had so many highs, followed by the longest injury stint of my career, which gave me plenty of time to spend with family and build my strength and fitness back. It’s been a long road but I’m feeling really good again and it will be good to put all that training back into play.”

After the injury last March, it took until September for Neil to take the field again, with a short English county stint for Somerset. He’s since played again for Northern Districts in both first-class and shorter versions, before being called up as an injury replacement in Bangladesh before Christmas but not taking the field.

BLACKCAPS bowler Neil Wagner trains on Pāpāmoa Beach, looking forward to playing on his home Bay Oval against South Africa, starting Sunday.  Photo by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media.

It’s been 18 years since Neil made his first-class debut, taking eight wickets in the match for his first province Northerns in South Africa.

He then toured Zimbabwe and Bangladesh with the South African National Academy side in 2006-2007, and even fielded as the twelfth man in two tests in Centurion, but opted to move to Otago in 2008.

He was twice the leading wicket-taker in the Plunket Shield before fulfilling his residency requirements and being called up for NZ’s tour of the West Indies in 2012.

Since then, he’s taken 258 test wickets with aggressive, often short-pitched seam and swing, with particular skill in often unhelpful home conditions; 176 of his wickets have come on NZ pitches. He’s also notched eight previous tests against South Africa, taking 31 wickets at an average of 28.51.

New Zealand is chasing their first-ever test series win against a weakened South Africa, which have as many as eight uncapped players in the side, including captain Neil Brand. Duanne Olivier is the most experienced member of the side with 15 Tests to his name.

BLACKCAPS coach Gary Stead, however, expects stern challenges from the South Africa unit regardless.

“The Proteas are a highly competitive team across formats and, having never won a test series against them home or away, we expect two stern challenges.

“It’s an honour to be involved in any test match and I know the players are looking forward to the start of a big test summer – in what is a big year of test cricket home and away.”

South Africa warmed up this week with a three-day match against a New Zealand XI at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln and arrived in Bay of Plenty yesterday in time for a pōhiri Thursday afternoon.

The first test begins at Bay Oval on Sunday, February 4 and runs to Thursday February 8 – and kids can attend for free on Waitangi Day, Tuesday, February 6.

Previous Bay Oval test results:

v England (Nov 2019) - NZ won by innings and 65 runs

v Pakistan (Dec 2020) - NZ won by 101 runs

v Bangladesh (Jan 2022) - Bangladesh won by 8 wickets

v England (Feb 2023) - England won by 267 runs

More info https://www.mytauranga.co.nz/whats-on/event-details/eid/7409/tctl/7663