Skip to content

Famous New Zealanders

Dick Motz: Canterbury cricketer

Born 12 January 1940, Richard Charles Motz played cricket for Canterbury and New Zealand.

A fast right-arm bowler and batsman, Motz was named the New Zealand Cricketer of the Year in 1961. He made his test debut at Durban in that year and took 19 wickets on tour. He was the first New Zealand bowler to take 100 test wickets. Motz was renowned for hitting sixes and scored three half centuries against England.

He retired in 1969 after it was found he had been bowling with displaced vertebra. In later life he became a taxi driver. He died in Christchurch on 29 April 2007, aged 67. The death notice in part read: “He bowled his final over.”

Our online resources:

  • Our guide to cricket including The Ashes, and links to national and international cricket news as well as local clubs and organisations.

Browse the resources in our libraries:

Sources

  • The Press, Tuesday, May 1, 2007 Sport D7.