TRIBUTE TO J. R. REID

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30094, 30 March 1963, Page 16

TRIBUTE TO J. R. REID

“Name Byword In S. Africa” (N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright) MELBOURNE. March 29. Tribute was paid by R. Benaud in the “Melbourne Herald” today to New Zealand's captain, J. R. Reid. The Australian test captain, who is leading a Commonwealth cricket team in South Africa, sent a despatch from Johannesburg. He wrote: “What a talented cricketer the New Zealand captain, John Reid is—fresh from a one-man game against England in which he made a century out of 159, he walked off the plane and on to the field in Rhodesia to take seven for just over 100 from 50 overs.

“Australians have hardly seen him play cricket (more's the pity) because of our peculiar attitude to New Zealand cricket. “In South Africa his name is a byword for the manner in which he held his team together and saw them through to a 2-2 draw in the series last year. “People here talk of Reid’s tour in the same way as they talk of Harvey’s tour of this country 14 years ago. They must both have been wonderful to watch. “With England’s captain Ted Dexter, Reid provided much needed bowling reinforcement for this Cavaliers’ side. His exhibition in Rhodesia was one of the best I have seen for a long time “Bowling quickish offspinners and cutters from a short run on a good batting wicket, he completely immobilised the local batsmen for-long stretches at a time.”