The all-round excellence of John Reid – captain, right-hand batsman, bowler, slip fieldsman and sometimes wicketkeeper – was world class. He first played for New Zealand on the 1949 tour of England where aged 21 he scored 50 in his first test innings. He captained New Zealand in their first test victory against the West Indies in 1956. He reached his full powers as a batsman on New Zealand's tour of South Africa in 1961–62, when he set a record aggregate for a touring batsman with 1,915 runs and seven centuries. His test batting average was 33.28 with six centuries, while at first-class level he averaged 41.35 and scored 39 centuries. As a bowler, his broad shoulders enabled him to generate great pace from a short run-up and he took 85 wickets in tests at 33.35. Later he became an ICC match referee and controlled 50 tests and 90 one-dayers.