Sheffield Cricket Lovers' Society Year Book 2023

15 “Through his unflagging enthusiasm and drive Reid helped keep the faltering flame of NZ cricket alight in the dark days of the 1950s when their status as a Test team was questioned after they were dismissed for 26 by England”. Richard Hadlee, one of the few players to rival Reid’s status as his country’s greatest player, said “If (Reid) was playing today he certainly would have made a wonderful one-day International cricketer. He would have done well in the T20 format too for the impact he had on the game during his time was extraordinary”. When Reid retired in 1965 he held the most caps for NZ (58), had taken the most wickets (85), scored the most runs (3428), and held the most catches in the field (39). Clearly, he was an amazing talent. On a lighter note, I had the good fortune to speak to him just once, and that was when he was refereeing a one-day International game at Chester-le-Street in 2005. In the course of our time together I mentioned that we had had a most enjoyable family holiday in NZ in 2001/2, staying in home stays (their equivalent of Bed & Breakfasts). In various parts of both the North and South islands we had met some wonderful people. Without a moment’s hesitation, he said, “When you next come to NZ you stay with me in my home stay in Taupo”. Sadly, that was never to happen but I wish it had for he was just a thoroughly nice man and I would no doubt have learned a lot about NZ’s rise to prominence during his 10 years of captaincy. Soon after Reid’s retirement in 1965 some strikingly good NZ players were beginning to come to the fore, namely Glenn Turner (41 tests 1968-82, 7 centuries, 2991 runs), Richard Hadlee (86, 1972-90, 431 wickets at an average of 5 per game, 2, 3124), Martin Crowe (77, 1981-95, 7, 5444), Stephen Fleming (111,1993-2007, 9, 7172) and Brendon McCullum (101, 2003-15, 12, 6453) to name a famous five. cont’d on pg17 Richard Hadlee