New Zealand left-arm quick Neil Wagner has decided to retire from international cricket effective immediately.
The bombshell news from Wagner came after the New Zealand selectors told him that he would not be selected for the upcoming two-test series against Australia that begins on Thursday this week.
Wagner, 37, announced the news at a press conference in Wellington on Tuesday and retires with 260 wickets at 27.57 with a strike rate of just 52.7 from 64 Test matches.
Only one Black Caps player has a better Test strike rate and has taken more than 100 wickets, with that being Sir Richard Hadlee.
"I knew the time was coming near," Wagner said, perย ESPN Cricinfo.
"They sometimes say when you think about retirement, you're screwed in a way. I knew the time was going to come and it was going to come close.
"In the last week, reflecting and looking into the future, looking at the Test matches that are to come, I thought it was the right time to step down and let the other guys come in and do what we've been doing as a group for a number of years and obviously grow that attack.
"It's never easy. It's an emotional road. It's a big rollercoaster.
"But it's something that I feel like the time [has] come to pass that baton on and leave that Black Cap in a good place for the rest to take it and hopefully grow their legacy forward."
As he steps away from the international scene, it is understood that Wagner will continue playing first-class cricket in New Zealand.
Despite not taking part in the series against Australia, the team invited the seamer to be a part of the first match.
"I wasn't going to be down here," Wagner added.
"I think it's a very nice way for the team... they invited me to come down here and spend this time with them to celebrate it but also help them prepare for the series to get stuck in against Australia and it was a really nice, kind gesture.
"And I thought it'd be a nice way to bow out, doing what I've always been doing, to come here, be here with the team, do everything with a smile on my face and service the lads.
"That's just who I am. And it's a pretty nice gesture and I'm really, extremely grateful to be here and that the team and everyone and Gary has asked me to do this."
