John Richard Reid

John Richard Reid

John Richard Reid captained New Zealand in 34 Test matches. He was the country’s first cricketing captain to achieve victory, both at home against the West Indies in 1956, and the first away win, against South Africa in 1962. Reid played in what is thought to be the first cricket match at the South Pole.

About John Richard Reid in brief

Summary John Richard ReidJohn Richard Reid captained New Zealand in 34 Test matches. He was the country’s first cricketing captain to achieve victory, both at home against the West Indies in 1956, and the first away win, against South Africa in 1962. Reid started out as 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. Reid played in what is thought to be the first cricket match at the South Pole, with the striped barber’s-type pole with a silver reflecting glass ball on top representing the actual Pole acting as the wicket.

Reid was also involved in popularising squash in New Zealand. He set up the John Reid Squash centre in Wellington, which was subsequently sold off to the New Zealand Squash Rackets Association. Reid died in Auckland on 14 October 2020, aged 92. In the 1962 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Reid was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to cricket.