New Zealand cricket great John Reid dies aged 64
John Fulton Reid, who scored six centuries in 19 Tests for New Zealand including 108 in a famous win over Australia, has died aged 64.
His death after a long battle with cancer was confirmed Tuesday by New Zealand Cricket.
RISKY: Major gamble as Sydney Test fate decided amid virus outbreak
‘DISAPPOINTING’: Australian captain slams 'frustrating' DRS
Reid's century against Australia at the Gabba in November, 1985, was instrumental in New Zealand's victory by an innings and 41 runs.
He shared a then-record 225-run partnership with Martin Crowe (188) for the third wicket which helped New Zealand to 7-553 in their only innings.
Richard Hadlee took 9-52 in Australia's first innings and 6-71 in the second to secure the win.
Reid was an elegant left-hander known for his skill against spin bowling and the Brisbane innings, on a fast, bouncy pitch, proved his ability against pace.
"To bat through, when the wicket was still doing a bit, was special," Reid told the New Zealand Herald on the 30th anniversary of the Brisbane Test.
"It wasn't an easy, flat pitch to start and I proved I could score a hundred outside sub-continent or spin-dominated attacks."
Reid’s incredible batting stats
In a Test career that ran from 1979 to 1986, he scored 1,296 runs at an average of 46. His conversion rate of half centuries to centuries was 75 per cent - six from eight.
John F Reid has passed away at the age of 64.
He remains the fastest New Zealand player to score 1000 Test runs, taking just 20 innings to reach the landmark.
Reid also had coaching spells with both the men's and women's national sides in his native country.
📸 @BLACKCAPS pic.twitter.com/5SMwWagh1V— ICC (@ICC) December 29, 2020
RESPECT 🏏
The BLACKCAPS are honouring the life of John F Reid today - New Zealand Test cap No.144. #NZvPAK #CricketNation
📷 = @PhotosportNZ pic.twitter.com/5NfPCv15ZX— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 29, 2020
Reid played in an essentially amateur New Zealand team but had said they had possessed a professional mindset.
"It sounds a bit trite given how professional the game is now but we saw the emergence of those who played in the English county environment," Reid said.
"John Wright, Geoff Howarth and Richard Hadlee brought a sense of professionalism which was different to the past.
"We tended to be weekend cricketers who happened to play Tests and, to a certain extent, that's how I regarded myself. We played a handful of first-class games a season. Suddenly we had more confidence and self-belief on the world stage."
Reid's death follows the death in October of his more famous namesake, former New Zealand captain John Richard Reid.
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.
