New Zealand pacer Neil Wagner announced his retirement from International cricket ahead of New Zealand’s first Test match against Australia. Wagner’s decision to retire came following his discussion with head coach Gary Stead where he was reportedly informed that he wasn’t part of the XI for the Australia series. Wagner, 37, played 64 Tests, claiming 260 wickets at an average of 27.57 and a strike rate of 52.7.

In the aftermath of Wagner’s retirement, former New Zealand cricketer Ross Taylor called Wagner’s retirement as “forced retirement”. 

"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 ESPN’s Around The Wicket. 

Meanwhile, New Zealand batter Kane Williamson didn’t agree with Taylor’s observation while noting that nobody is forced to retire. Williamson is set to play his 100th match along with Test skipper Tim Southee in the upcoming second Test match against Australia that is slated to begin from Friday at Hagley Oval.

“I don’t think anybody is forced to retire. I think last week, he (Wagner) had a fantastic week and it was reflecting on what was an incredible career,” Williamson said during the press conference.

"We had some amazing moments in the dressing room. It did not go perfectly. Obviously, an on-field performance would have helped but it was so much more than that. He has just done such incredible things for this team. And we have seen the skill that he has and the numbers that everybody sees but the heart and soul and effort that he has brought to the side and largely led through that for so long has been incredible. It was quite a special week for that reason and I think he had a really amazing time sharing that with the side," he said.