A right-arm fast bowler who played 32 Tests for New Zealand, taking 100 wickets and being part of the team that won their first-ever Test match against the West Indies in 1956. He was known for his pace and ability to take wickets on any surface.
Dick Motz, a right-arm fast bowler and hard-hitting lower-order batsman, is perhaps best known for being the first bowler for New Zealand to take 100 wickets in Test cricket. His impressive career spanned over a decade, with 32 Test matches played for the New Zealand national cricket team between 1961 and 1969.
Born on January 12, 1940, in Christchurch, New Zealand, Motz was educated at North New Brighton primary school and Linwood High School. During his school days, he excelled as an all-rounder in cricket, and also played rugby, tennis, badminton, and golf.
Motz made his debut in the Plunket Shield in 1957, while still a schoolboy, taking 4 for 40 in his first outing. He went on to establish himself as a hostile fast bowler and a big-hitting lower-order batsman in New Zealand domestic cricket. His best first-class performances came in 1966-67, when he took 8 wickets for 61 runs against Wellington, and in 1967-68, when he scored 103 not out against Otago, making his only first-class century inside an hour.
Motz made his Test debut in December 1961, in the 1st Test at Durban, one of five New Zealand players and seven South Africans to do so. He took 81 wickets on the tour, at a bowling average of 19, including 19 wickets in the five Tests. He also scored three Test half-centuries, all at home against England.
Dick Motz's impressive career and achievements have left a lasting impact on New Zealand cricket. He set the bar high for future generations of Kiwi cricketers, and his record of being the first bowler to take 100 Test wickets remains an inspiration to many.
Motz's legacy extends beyond the cricket field, too. He was known for his larger-than-life personality, and his ability to connect with fans and teammates alike. His contributions to the sport have been recognized with numerous awards and honors, cementing his place as one of New Zealand's cricketing greats.
Dick Motz passed away on April 29, 2007, but his legacy lives on, inspiring future generations of cricketers and fans alike.
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