| John Morrison | |
| Country: | New Zealand |
| Fullname: | John Francis MacLean Morrison |
| Nickname: | Mystery |
| Birth Date: | 27 August 1947 |
| Birth Place: | Wellington, New Zealand |
| Batting: | Right-handed |
| Bowling: | Slow left-arm orthodox |
| Role: | Batsman |
| International: | true |
| Internationalspan: | 1973–1983 |
| Testdebutdate: | 29 December |
| Testdebutyear: | 1973 |
| Testdebutagainst: | Australia |
| Testcap: | 128 |
| Lasttestdate: | 19 March |
| Lasttestyear: | 1982 |
| Lasttestagainst: | Australia |
| Odidebutdate: | 9 March |
| Odidebutyear: | 1975 |
| Odidebutagainst: | England |
| Odicap: | 20 |
| Lastodidate: | 17 March |
| Lastodiyear: | 1983 |
| Lastodiagainst: | Australia |
| Club1: | Central Districts |
| Club2: | Wellington |
| Year2: | 1967/68–1983/84 |
| Columns: | 4 |
| Column1: | Test |
| Matches1: | 17 |
| Runs1: | 656 |
| Bat Avg1: | 22.62 |
| 100S/50S1: | 1/3 |
| Top Score1: | 117 |
| Deliveries1: | 264 |
| Wickets1: | 2 |
| Bowl Avg1: | 35.50 |
| Fivefor1: | 0 |
| Tenfor1: | 0 |
| Best Bowling1: | 2/52 |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 9/– |
| Column2: | ODI |
| Matches2: | 18 |
| Runs2: | 252 |
| Bat Avg2: | 21.00 |
| 100S/50S2: | 0/1 |
| Top Score2: | 55 |
| Deliveries2: | 283 |
| Wickets2: | 8 |
| Bowl Avg2: | 24.87 |
| Fivefor2: | 0 |
| Tenfor2: | 0 |
| Best Bowling2: | 3/24 |
| Catches/Stumpings2: | 6/– |
| Column3: | FC |
| Matches3: | 126 |
| Runs3: | 6,142 |
| Bat Avg3: | 30.71 |
| 100S/50S3: | 7/32 |
| Top Score3: | 180 |
| Deliveries3: | 4,407 |
| Wickets3: | 51 |
| Bowl Avg3: | 31.50 |
| Fivefor3: | 1 |
| Tenfor3: | 0 |
| Best Bowling3: | 5/69 |
| Catches/Stumpings3: | 133/– |
| Column4: | LA |
| Matches4: | 54 |
| Runs4: | 1,312 |
| Bat Avg4: | 31.23 |
| 100S/50S4: | 0/10 |
| Top Score4: | 89 |
| Deliveries4: | 576 |
| Wickets4: | 12 |
| Bowl Avg4: | 34.75 |
| Fivefor4: | 0 |
| Tenfor4: | 0 |
| Best Bowling4: | 3/24 |
| Catches/Stumpings4: | 21/– |
| Date: | 3 December |
| Year: | 2016 |
| Source: | http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/37731.html Cricinfo |
John Francis Maclean Morrison (born 27 August 1947) is a former New Zealand cricketer who played 17 Test matches and 18 One Day Internationals for New Zealand. From 1998 to 2013, he was a Wellington City Councillor; his political career ended when he stood for mayor in 2013.
A dogged right-handed opening batsman who was born at Wellington in 1947, Morrison was also known for his occasional left-arm spin bowling, including his 'mystery' delivery.[1] After several seasons of moderate performances in domestic cricket he hit 180 not out (which remained his highest first-class score) for Wellington against Northern Districts at Wellington in 1972–73,[2] and was selected for the next season's tour of Australia. In the three-Test series he was the leading run-scorer on either side, with 249 at an average of 41.50. He hit 117, his only Test century, in the Second Test at Sydney.[3] He never regained that Test form, although he did enough to be selected in the International Wanderers XI tour of South Africa in 1975–76.[4]
His best first-class bowling came for Wellington against Auckland at Auckland in 1977–78, when he took 5 for 69 in Auckland's second innings and followed up with 106 to lead a run chase which ended with Wellington losing by four runs.[5]
Since retiring from playing, Morrison has worked as a commentator and in local politics, including serving on the Wellington City Council for the Western Ward since 1998.[6] As councilor, Morrison worked to bring an Aussie Rules match to Wellington.[7] A match was held on Anzac Day 2013 between St Kilda and the Sydney Swans. Shortly afterwards Morrison and businessman John Dow brokered a deal with Australian firm CallActive to bring "300 to 500" call-centre jobs to Wellington.[8]
In May 2013, Morrison announced his candidacy for the Wellington mayoralty at the 2013 local elections.[9] He was unsuccessful in challenging incumbent mayor Celia Wade-Brown, meaning that he was no longer on Wellington City Council, as he had contested the mayoralty only.[10]
In July 2019, a new centre-right political party, the Wellington Party, announced candidates for the 2019 local government elections would include Morrison.[11] However, he did not appear on the final list of candidates.
After finishing as a Wellington City Councillor in 2013, Morrison took on a role as CallActive's business development manager but left before the centre went into liquidation in 2015.[12]
In the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours, Morrison was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to cricket and the community.[13]