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