Wagner

Wagner

Fantasy Bob has noted that making his debut for New Zealand in the First Test against West Indies which started this week in Antigua is left arm seamer Neil Wagner.

As far as FB knows this Wagner is no relation to the Wagner, that is Richard Wagner, composer of the Ring Cycle. He may well be, but chooses not to draw attention to it, for even at the distance of 150 years Richard Wagner remains controversial in some respects. Wagner’s, that is Richard Wagner, not Neil, views on cricket are not known. His biography suggests that he was not a man likely to walk after gloving it behind. But at another level, he might well have viewed the game as an expression of his concept of the gesamtkunstwerk – the total art work – had he thought about it. FB still awaits the imaginative producer who will use an Ashes Series as the background to a presentation of the Ring Cycle. In fact FB offers his services to any opera house willing to put on such a show. He is sure it would be a sure fire hit.

However Neil Wagner is a South African recruit to the New Zealand cause which has been stuttering of late.  His first day as a Test bowler was not as successful as he might have hoped. He started the day at the crease for he had been sent in the previous evening as night watchman; he did not survive for long before being caught at slip off Sunil Narine for 4.  Then as the West Indies innings gained momentum, his first 5 overs in Test cricket went for 35 as Chris Gayle, on his return to Test cricket, took a liking to him.  The next day was not all that great either as the West Indies openers piled on the runs.  On the third day, Wagner got his first Test wicket getting Kieran Powell to chase a wide won - the previous 3 balls in the over had each gone for 4.

His treatment in Antigua was so different from his astonishing bowling spell for Otago against Wellington in 2010 when he took 5 wickets in a single over.   While other bowlers in First Class Cricket have taken 5 wickets in 6 balls, Wagner appears to be the only bowler to have done this in one over.  Now that was truly a Wagnerian achievement.

Wagner

Perhaps Neil Wagner should not worry too much about his debut.  For the debut of his namesake the Wagner, Richard, was not a triumph either. His first staged work was Das Liebesverbot (The Ban on Love), based on Shakespeare's Measure for Measure. Performed at Magdeburg in 1836, it closed after one performance, leaving the composer in serious financial difficulties – a recurring theme in Wagner’s life. 

 It was not until 1843 that he met with some success in the theatre when The Flying Dutchman was presented for the first time in Dresden.  It is said that he took the inspiration for this work from a stormy sea passage to London in 1839 to where he was fleeing from creditors.

The Flying Dutchman tells the tale of a skipper who is cursed to bowl up the hill against the wind forever without rest. An angel brought to him the terms of his redemption: every seven years the waves will cast him upon the shore; if he can find a wife who will be true to him he will be released from his curse, and get a LBW decision in his favour.  This is obviously based on FB’s career - except for the part about redemption. Test Match Quality.

Scottish Opera will be presenting this great work in the autumn.  Be there.

  
In the meantime - try the overture to Neil Wagner's next bowling spell played on this link by the Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera in NY conducted by James Levine.