As a red-ball specialist who has not played any white-ball cricket for New Zealand, Neil Wagner never dreamed of being a part of a world final. Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo in the lead-up to the inaugural World Test Championship final, the left-armer compared the match to the World Cup final. During a virtual media interaction on Saturday afternoon, Wagner said winning the WTC was "the pinnacle of the game" for him and the team was overwhelmed by the support and welcome from its supporters.
"Never [dreamed of it]," Wagner said. "No, he (playing white-ball cricket for New Zealand) was like a dream and a ship that sailed to be fair - was thinking of the white-ball World Cup in some way. So, when the Test The championship came around and it was explained to us a few years back how it was going to be, I'm really excited about the idea. I thought it was very special and I thought it was something that would change the way Test cricket was played. Going to make it now and make it quite exciting and add a little more perspective to it.
"So, in the end, I think, going to an ICC event and something big with that... How tough is Test cricket and to be able to do that for a period of two years; it's extremely difficult to try and keep every Test match." A performance in and win it. There are many things that have to go your way and you have to put in a lot of hard work in five days.
"Then to reach a final which was obviously rain-affected and still play our brand of cricket and stay positive and get there, for me personally, I can't speak for everyone, it The last for me to win is the Test Championship final though it is the first and maybe hard to compare with others, it is definitely the pinnacle of the game for me. And to win it against a quality team like India and the way We did and then to see what it meant to everyone… back home the support and support that was around - text messages keep pouring in, the phone keeps ringing and to see what Kiwi supporters and family and friends What it means for us, it also means a lot to us. So, it's definitely right there."
Everyone wants a piece of the WTC mace now nicknamed Michael Mason - including customs officials who greeted New Zealand players in Auckland on Saturday morning after touching them.
"I don't think I've ever walked into customs and were greeted the way we did," Wagner said. "Everyone was straight up like: 'Congratulations!' Very happy, [they] grabbed our passports and all they wanted to ask was 'Where's the mace? Where's the mace?' Obviously, when they saw it, the smile on their faces and what it brought to them, it hit home hard… what was the point of people coming back home and clearly crossing the line, a Test Championship final. Winning, and bringing that trophy back like this.
"I remember seeing as a kid so many other teams picking up that [mace] after completing the No. 1 Test cycle in the world and what it meant to them. So, winning it in one go To be able to have a Test match like this is a very special feeling and once we get home we can see what it means for other people.
"Want to even see police officers stop and take a photo from afar with it. As I said, it's a pity that it's covid time and you can't hug these people around and take a photo with you." And you know, obviously, Dena got them something back too, but it was nice to see the smiles on everyone's faces and how happy they were to receive us and board the bus… there were cameras outside And the guys were waving and yeah obviously pretty happy about what we were able to achieve. I think it definitely hits the boys hard with everyone who is in and around everyone."