John Richard Reid
Encyclopedia
John Richard Reid was a New Zealand
cricketer
who captained New Zealand
in 34 Tests
. He was the country's first cricketing leader to achieve victory, both at home against the West Indies in 1956 and the first away win, against South Africa
in 1962. During his career he was a leading force with both the bat and the ball.
and Martin Crowe
."
An aggressive batsman, Reid once hit four sixes in ten deliveries on the opening morning of a Calcutta Test Match. He also held a then-world record of fifteen sixes in an innings of 296 for Wellington
against Northern Districts
. According to England captain Ted Dexter
(Reid's opposite number in the 1962-63 series), Reid hit the ball as consistently powerfully as anyone he had ever seen. With a strong build, Reid had been set for a career in rugby
before a schoolboy bout of rheumatic fever prevented this. He drove powerfully off both the back and the front foot, and was a clean hitter to leg.
Reid was also a strong and aggressive bowler who, in his early days, was an authentic quick. He later turned to off-cutters and spin from a short run-up with a trademark side-step. Until a swollen knee slowed down his movements and checked his agility, he was a strong and multi-talented fieldsman at slip and in the covers. On the 1949 tour of England, he was appointed reserve wicketkeeper.
Reid never featured in an England-beating New Zealand Test side, but his men secured a narrow first-innings lead against Dexter's eleven in the Third Test in Christchurch. Unable to take advantage, they collapsed at the hands of Fred Trueman and Fred Titmus for 159 in their second innings, out of which Reid hit exactly 100 before stumbling from the field in pallid enervation. The second-highest score was 22. This remains the lowest all-out Test match total to include a century.
In 1953-54, after a period of poor form at the highest level, Reid went to South Africa
and collected more than 1,000 runs and over fifty wickets.
His finest season was 1961-62, when he hit 546 runs in five Tests against South Africa
at an average of 60.64. Over the course of the tour, he amassed 1,915 first-class runs at 68.39. The media gave him particular attention, Dick Whitington dubbed him "the greatest batsman in cricket today", adding in his tour book, John Reid's Kiwis, "There is nothing petty or ignoble about John Reid, nothing bitter, disappointed, resentful in his system. To me, Reid shines from the ruck of many others who have played big cricket since the Hitler war
, in much the same manner that Sir Roy Welensky
, and yes Dr Hendrik Verwoerd
, because of his courage, stands out from the other so-called statesmen of modern Africa."
Reid's conversative view on apartheid was that it had nothing to do with sport; nor should it affect it. Even in the late-1980s, when he lived and coached in that stricken land, he remained opposed to the sports boycott.
The 1965 tour of England
found little success, coming as it did immediately after seven Test Matches in India
and Pakistan
. Reid led his side to a three-nil defeat but was appointed captain of the Rest of the World for two matches against an England XI at the conclusion of the season. These were the first matches of their kind and the last appearances at first-class level for John Reid.
A mentor to other players, Reid had much to do with the rises to prominence of Bev Congdon
and Richard Collinge
, who would years later feature prominently in a maiden England win. After his active career, Reid became a match referee
, known for his hard-hitting thoughts on the modern game. His son Richard
played nine one-day internationals for New Zealand.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
who captained New Zealand
New Zealand cricket team
The New Zealand cricket team, nicknamed the Black Caps, are the national cricket team representing New Zealand. They played their first in 1930 against England in Christchurch, New Zealand, becoming the fifth country to play Test cricket. It took the team until 1955–56 to win a Test, against the...
in 34 Tests
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
. He was the country's first cricketing leader to achieve victory, both at home against the West Indies in 1956 and the first away win, against South Africa
South African cricket team
The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...
in 1962. During his career he was a leading force with both the bat and the ball.
Career
"The figures mislead," confirmed John Mehaffey, whose favourite Reid was. "Nobody who saw him at the crease would dispute his own assessment that he could have increased his batting average by half again if he had played in the 1980s side with Richard HadleeRichard Hadlee
Sir Richard John Hadlee, MBE is a former New Zealand cricketer who played provincial cricket for Canterbury, Nottinghamshire and Tasmania. He is the son of Walter Hadlee, and the brother of Dayle and Barry Hadlee. His former wife Karen also played international cricket for New Zealand.Hadlee was...
and Martin Crowe
Martin Crowe
Martin David Crowe is a former New Zealand cricketer. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1985, and was credited as one of the "best young batsmen in the world". Crowe represented New Zealand from the early 1980s until his retirement in 1996 as a right-handed batsman...
."
An aggressive batsman, Reid once hit four sixes in ten deliveries on the opening morning of a Calcutta Test Match. He also held a then-world record of fifteen sixes in an innings of 296 for Wellington
Wellington Firebirds
The Wellington Firebirds are one of six New Zealand first-class cricket teams that make up New Zealand Cricket.It is based in Wellington. It competes in the State Championship first class competition, the State Shield domestic one day competition and the State Twenty20 Cricket Tournament.The...
against Northern Districts
Northern Districts Knights
The Yahoo!Xtra Northern Knights are one of six New Zealand first class cricket teams that make up New Zealand Cricket.It is based in the northern half of the North Island of New Zealand...
. According to England captain Ted Dexter
Ted Dexter
Edward Ralph Dexter CBE is a former English cricketer...
(Reid's opposite number in the 1962-63 series), Reid hit the ball as consistently powerfully as anyone he had ever seen. With a strong build, Reid had been set for a career in rugby
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
before a schoolboy bout of rheumatic fever prevented this. He drove powerfully off both the back and the front foot, and was a clean hitter to leg.
Reid was also a strong and aggressive bowler who, in his early days, was an authentic quick. He later turned to off-cutters and spin from a short run-up with a trademark side-step. Until a swollen knee slowed down his movements and checked his agility, he was a strong and multi-talented fieldsman at slip and in the covers. On the 1949 tour of England, he was appointed reserve wicketkeeper.
Reid never featured in an England-beating New Zealand Test side, but his men secured a narrow first-innings lead against Dexter's eleven in the Third Test in Christchurch. Unable to take advantage, they collapsed at the hands of Fred Trueman and Fred Titmus for 159 in their second innings, out of which Reid hit exactly 100 before stumbling from the field in pallid enervation. The second-highest score was 22. This remains the lowest all-out Test match total to include a century.
In 1953-54, after a period of poor form at the highest level, Reid went to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and collected more than 1,000 runs and over fifty wickets.
His finest season was 1961-62, when he hit 546 runs in five Tests against South Africa
South African cricket team
The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...
at an average of 60.64. Over the course of the tour, he amassed 1,915 first-class runs at 68.39. The media gave him particular attention, Dick Whitington dubbed him "the greatest batsman in cricket today", adding in his tour book, John Reid's Kiwis, "There is nothing petty or ignoble about John Reid, nothing bitter, disappointed, resentful in his system. To me, Reid shines from the ruck of many others who have played big cricket since the Hitler war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in much the same manner that Sir Roy Welensky
Roy Welensky
Sir Raphael "Roy" Welensky, KCMG was a Northern Rhodesian politician and the second and last prime minister of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland...
, and yes Dr Hendrik Verwoerd
Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd
Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd , commonly identified as H.F. Verwoerd, was Prime Minister of South Africa from 1958 until his assassination in 1966...
, because of his courage, stands out from the other so-called statesmen of modern Africa."
Reid's conversative view on apartheid was that it had nothing to do with sport; nor should it affect it. Even in the late-1980s, when he lived and coached in that stricken land, he remained opposed to the sports boycott.
The 1965 tour of England
New Zealand cricket team in England in 1965
The New Zealand cricket team toured England in the 1965 season, playing three Test matches in the first half of a damp summer. England later hosted a second three-match series against South Africa, the first time two Test series were played in a single English cricket season since the 1912...
found little success, coming as it did immediately after seven Test Matches in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Reid led his side to a three-nil defeat but was appointed captain of the Rest of the World for two matches against an England XI at the conclusion of the season. These were the first matches of their kind and the last appearances at first-class level for John Reid.
A mentor to other players, Reid had much to do with the rises to prominence of Bev Congdon
Bevan Congdon
Bevan Ernest Congdon OBE is a former New Zealand all-rounder who played 61 Test matches from 1965 to 1978. He was captain of the New Zealand Test and ODI team from 1972 to 1974. Congdon was the first New Zealand captain to record a victory over Australia...
and Richard Collinge
Richard Collinge
Richard Owen Collinge was a New Zealand cricketer.-Career:Collinge bowled left arm fast medium, ending his long run with both arms stretching upwards and swinging the ball. He was New Zealand Cricket Almanack Player of the Year in 1971.He pitched the ball up and relied on late movement...
, who would years later feature prominently in a maiden England win. After his active career, Reid became a match referee
Match referee
A match referee is an official appointed to oversee professional cricket matches. Match referees for Test matches and One Day Internationals are appointed by the International Cricket Council...
, known for his hard-hitting thoughts on the modern game. His son Richard
Richard Reid (cricketer)
Richard Bruce Reid played nine One Day Internationals for New Zealand between 1988 and 1991, but no Test matches.Reid was born in Lower Hutt, Wellington. His father, John Reid, also played international cricket for New Zealand....
played nine one-day internationals for New Zealand.