Former New Zealand cricketer John F Reid passes away at 64

Former batsman John F Reid, who scored six centuries in 19 Tests for New Zealand, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 64. His death after a long illness was confirmed by New Zealand Cricket.

Reid is famously known for a gritty 108 that he scored against Australia at Brisbane’s Gabba ground in November 1985. New Zealand went on to win the match by an innings and 41 runs. He shared the then record 225-run partnership with Martin Crowe (188) for the third wicket which helped New Zealand to 553-7 in its only innings.

Reid scored 1,296 runs at an average of 46 in the 19 Tests that



he played for New Zealand. He played from 1979 to 1986 and his conversion rate of half centuries to centuries was 75 percent — six from eight.

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.”