Williamson Breaks Silence On Ross Taylor's 'Neil Wagner Forced Retirement' Accusation

Former New Zealand batter Ross Taylor has said that the retirement of pacer Neil Wagner was a "forced" one. Ahead of the first Test between Australia and New Zealand, Kiwi fast bowler Wagner had announced his retirement from international cricket. The 37-year-old pacer took the emotional choice after a difficult chat with coach Gary Stead during which it was made clear that he was not in New Zealand's top XI for the forthcoming series against Australia.

The left-armer finished his Test career fifth overall on the list of New Zealand Test wicket-takers, with 260 scalps in 64 Tests.

"I think it all makes sense a little bit now. There is no sugarcoating it: I think it is a forced retirement. If you listen to Wagner's press conference, he was retiring, but it was after this last Test match [against Australia]. So he did make himself available," Taylor said on Tuesday as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

He was responding to a question on ESPN's 'Around the Wicket' podcast about Wagner's finger-on-the-mouth celebration during the second Test against South Africa held earlier in February, which was his last Test appearance and a visual of him making explicit gestures as the team got into a huddle to celebrate a dismissal.

During the first Test, Wagner did make an appearance as a substitute fielder and carried drinks for his teammates. Wagner was set to be released from the team after the first Test, but William O'Rourke's injury presented an opportunity of a potential recall during the second Test at Christchurch. Kiwis chose to go with uncapped pacer Ben Sears over Wagner.

Taylor further said that though the team has to look out and plan for its future, but a Test against Trans-Tasman rivals Australia, that too a must-win match, called