‘Visionary’ Reid hailed by peers
John F Reid, the accomplished lefthanded batsman and later cricket administrator, has been remembered by his peers as a dependable and astute team-mate.
Reid, who played 19 tests for New Zealand – scoring 1296 runs at an average of 46.28, including six centuries – and then went on to have a career as an administrator, has been described as ‘‘classy’’, a ‘‘gentleman’’ and a ‘‘visionary’’.
The Black Caps wore black armbands on the final day of the test against Pakistan in tribute to Reid, who died on Monday, aged 64.
New Zealand Cricket said Reid was recognised as one of New Zealand’s best players of spin. The lefthander scored all but one of his six centuries against sub-continental opposition.
Team-mate John Wright remembers the tours to the subcontent well, particularly to Sri Lanka. He said while others in the team struggled with the heat, Reid was cool, calm and collected.
‘‘John was very calm, unruffled and sensible. He was a good technician cricket-wise,’’ he said.
‘‘He was a good team man. He was a quiet achiever. He was always constant. Dependable. Reliable. Astute.’’
Sir Richard Hadlee’s fondest memory of Reid was his outstanding 108 against Australia at the Gabba in 1985, where he combined in a third-wicket stand of 284 with Martin Crowe to form the backbone of New Zealand’s matchwinning first innings of 553-7 declared. It helped secure New Zealand’s first test win in Australia.
‘‘His contribution was quite significant ... those two put the game firmly in our control and gave us a significant lead that allowed us to win that first ever test in Australia,’’ Hadlee said.
‘‘He played the game hard. He played it fair. He was a very good thinker of the game; the way it should be played and with strategies, both playing and as an administrator, always looking to come up with fresh ideas,’’ he said. ‘‘He had a great smile . . . and was a very good competitor. He’s a likeable bloke. Not many would have said a bad word about him.’’
Reid was part of the coaching lineup for the 2000 World Cup-winning White Ferns. Catherine Campbell said Reid was a ‘‘key member’’ of the side.
‘‘John was clearly someone that had that vision to think of how we could prepare slightly differently,’’ she said.
‘‘John didn’t like the limelight, but ... he was proud. He played a support role and was delighted for everyone [at the World Cup]’’.
Campbell described Reid as a ‘‘visionary’’, with that vision spanning across all levels of the game.
‘‘He had a great love for the community game as well, of all parts of the game. He didn’t have an ego. He wasn’t always wanting to be involved at the top of the game which I think is a real trademark of John’s,’’ she said.
NZC chief executive David White said Reid had not only been a champion player but also one of the most influential administrative figures within the game.
Reid is survived by his wife Karen, their daughters Amanda and Carolyn, and his six grandchildren: Eva, Charlotte, Ruby, Blake, Heidi and Reid.
His funeral will be held at Tai Tapu, near Christchurch, on Saturday.