John Beck

Who was John Beck?

John Edward Francis Beck was a New Zealand cricketer who played in eight Tests from 1953 to 1956.

An attacking left-handed batsman, he was selected for the tour to South Africa in 1953-54 at the age of 19 and before he had played a first-class match. In the Third Test at Cape Town he was run out for 99 after he and John Reid had put on 174 for the fifth wicket, including 165 in the two hours between lunch and tea on the second day.

In New Zealand's first ever Test victory, against the West Indies at Auckland in 1955-56, he made 38 in the first innings, adding 104 for the fifth wicket with Reid, the highest partnership of the low-scoring match.

He played for Wellington with mixed success from 1954-55 to 1961-62. His highest score was 149 against Canterbury in 1955-56.

Beck has been referred to as "one of the great mystery players of the age - he promised everything and achieved almost nothing."