World Test Championship final is like a World Cup final: Neil Wagner

Neil Wagner is a threat in Tests team are always wary of. He adds the extra bite to the Kiwi bowling and is capable of running through batting line-ups irrespective of conditions. Blessed with superb fitness skills the pacer can bowl long spells of short-pitch bowling, something teams are not comfortable at facing.

In the World Test Championship final, he is expected to be a tough cookie to negotiate for Team India. Wagner is aware of what he brings to the table and has already initiated the mental games. Since he is not part of the white-ball set up, he throws everything into the ring when he turns up in the whites for the Kiwis.

“Yeah, it is like a World Cup final for me. The biggest disappointment, I guess, in my career is that I’ve never really played a white-ball game for New Zealand or never been able to crack into the T20 or the one-day game,” Wagner told ESPNcricinfo.

“That ship has probably sailed now and I don't think the opportunity will ever come. For me now, it’s about putting all my focus and energy into Test cricket and to be able to play in a World Test Championship final is like a World Cup for me,” he added.

“I know this final is the first and there isn't a lot of history around it, but it’s the start of something that's pretty big. To play in a one-off Test final against India - one of the best teams in the world, if not the best team in the world - to be able to test yourself against the best on the highest and biggest stage, that's what it's about,” he said.

The 35-year-old called it a special occasion, but emphasized that he will be treating it like just another Test match.

“It’s extremely exciting, but I don’t want to think too far ahead. Don’t want to let the occasion get to you, just treat it like another Test match and do the same things you do. It's definitely going to be a special occasion. That's for sure,” Wagner added.