7 Great cricketers who were not so good captains

7. John Reid:

The oldest surviving New Zealand Test cricketer, John Reid was a brilliant all-rounder and remains one of the legends of his country’s cricket. Someone who could have been breathtaking cricket in the shortest format of the game, Reid unfortunately retired just before the ODI matches were started since he belonged to a generation prior to it.

He was attacking batsman with thunderous strokes, a superb fielder and an aggressive bowler who, in his early days, was genuinely quick. He later turned to off-cutters and spin from a short run-up with a trademark side-step. He played 58 Tests for his country scoring 3428 runs at an average of 33.28 including 6 tons and 22 fifties and also took 85 wickets at 33.35. His captaincy record, though, failed to impress largely due to a weak team which failed to compete against much-established teams.

He captained New Zealand in 34 Tests winning just 3 and losing 18 with 13 drawn matches. In 1956, a strong West Indies team toured the picturesque country and beat the home side 2-1. In 1958 England, at home, beat the visiting Kiwis 4-0 in a 5-match series. In early 1959 the two teams faced each other again, this time in a 2-match series in New Zealand which the visitors won 1-0.

In 1961, Reid had a marvelous season scoring 546 runs in five Tests against South Africa in an away series at an average of 60.64. He was instrumental in helping his team finish the 5-match series 2-2. In 1963, England toured New Zealand and beat the Kiwis 3-0. In 1965, Reid’s team toured India for a 4-match series and lost 1-0, followed by a tour to Pakistan, where the team lost 2-0. The great man retired after a 3-0 series loss against England on an away tour.