Full name Richard Charles Motz
Born January 12, 1940, Christchurch, Canterbury
Died April 29, 2007, Christchurch (aged 67 years 107 days)
Major teams New Zealand, Canterbury
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm fast
Education Linwood High School
Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 | 6s | Ct | St | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 32 | 56 | 3 | 612 | 60 | 11.54 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 9 | 0 |
First-class | 142 | 225 | 21 | 3494 | 103* | 17.12 | 1 | 13 | 41 | 0 |
Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 32 | 55 | 7034 | 3148 | 100 | 6/63 | 8/113 | 31.48 | 2.68 | 70.3 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
First-class | 142 | 29773 | 11767 | 518 | 8/61 | 22.71 | 2.37 | 57.4 | 24 | 4 |
Test debut | South Africa v New Zealand at Durban, Dec 8-12, 1961 scorecard |
Last Test | England v New Zealand at The Oval, Aug 21-26, 1969 scorecard |
Test statistics | |
First-class span | 1957/58 - 1968/69 |
Dick Motz was a robust, indefatigable seamer who bowled outswingers, but one who wasn't used to success - New Zealand won only four of his 32 Tests. On his first tour - to South Africa in 1961-62 - he took 19 wickets in his country's most successful Test series, and though he had lost some of his edge by 1969, he became the first New Zealander to reach 100 Test wickets, against England at The Oval. Good job he did, as at the end of the summer it was discovered that he'd been bowling for 18 months with a displaced vertebra. He retired immediately. As a beefy lower-order slogger Motz was a dangerous customer, and made three fifties, all against England, all laden with sixes. He subsequently became a publican, which did no good for his health, and, always prone to be heavy, he piled on weight and towards the end of his life he topped 30 stones. . In 1997 he was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.
Rob Smyth