Dick Motz

Motz was born in Christchurch. He was educated at North New Brighton primary school and Linwood High School, excelling as an all-rounder at both.[2] He also played rugby, tennis, badminton and golf. He played as full-back for the New Brighton rugby team for two years after leaving school.[3]

He played domestic cricket for Canterbury, making his debut in the Plunket Shield in 1957, while still a schoolboy, taking 4 for 40 at his first outing.[3][4] He made his reputation as a hostile fast bowler, and a big-hitting lower order batsman.

His best first-class performances were in New Zealand domestic cricket. He took 8 wickets for 61 runs against Wellington in 1966–67,[5] and scored 103 not out against Otago in 1967–68,[6] making his only first-class century inside an hour.[7] On tour to Australia in 1967–68, he scored 94 against South Australia,[8] including 76 runs from boundaries (6 sixes and 10 fours).[7]

He was one of five New Zealand players and seven South Africans to make their Test debut in the 1st Test at Durban in December 1961.[9] He took 81 wickets on the tour, at a bowling average of 19, including 19 wickets in the five Tests.[7]

He took five wickets in an innings five times in Tests, once in England and twice at home against each of India and West Indies. He was also a handy lower-order batsman, scoring three Test half-centuries, all at home against England.

In 1968, he was the first bowler to be banned from bowling in a Test due to running on the wicket.[7][10] In his last Test, the third Test against England at The Oval in August 1969,[11] Motz became the first New Zealand bowler to take 100 Test wickets when he trapped Phil Sharpe leg before wicket (his only wicket of the match).[3]

Motz was New Zealand Cricket Almanack Player of the Year in 1961, South African Cricket Annual Cricketer of the Year in 1962, and a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1966.[2][12]

Motz's playing career ended at the age of 29, after he was found to have a displaced vertebra – indeed, he had been playing with a bad back for over a year.[3][7] After his retirement from cricket, he became a taxi driver. He also ran a sports business, and then ran a pub in Timaru. In later years, he put on considerable weight, ending over 30 stone.[3]

He was inducted to the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.

He was married twice. His first marriage, to cricketer Loretta Todd, ended in divorce in 1987. They had a son and two daughters. His son, Wayne, was murdered in 1989.[3] He remarried, to Josephine Cole.

He died in Christchurch.[7][13] He was found dead at his home by his former captain, Graham Dowling. He was survived by his two daughters from his first marriage.

• Dick Motz at ESPNcricinfo