After the 1949 tour of England as the baby of the team, Reid had fallen in love with the country.
Former New Zealand captain John Reid, who turned 85 recently, is battling bowel cancer.
John Richard Reid was not only among the greatest cricketers of the era, he was one of the all-time champions. Captaincy was just another aspect of his game. One of the greatest ambassadors of New Zealand cricket, Reid also played in the first cricket match at South Pole.
New Zealand's Jeff Crowe will become only the fifth member of the ICC's panel of Match Referees to complete a half-century of Tests when he takes the field for toss in the first Test between the West Indies and Australia in Bridgetown on Saturday.