Richard Charles Motz was a New Zealand cricketer. A right-arm fast bowler and hard-hitting lower order batsman, Motz played 32 Test matches for the New Zealand national cricket team between 1961 and 1969. He was the first bowler for New Zealand to take 100 wickets in Test cricket. The 1960s NZ pace bowler and big hitter was one of the most popular Kiwi cricketers of all time. Although dwarfed by several other Kiwi bowlers since, Motz's accomplishment was special in that it was achieved in an era when New Zealand was considered a Cinderella team and struggling for its credibility and identity in international cricket.

Dick Motz was born on January 12, 1940 and bred in Christchurch into a family prominent in harness-racing. His father, an occasional Sunday cricketer, was one of the firsts to notice Motz's innate skills for cricket and tennis and encouraged him to seriously pursue the willow game. Nevertheless, he always played sport with a vengeance. He was educated at North New Brighton primary school and Linwood High School, excelling as an all-rounder at both. 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. Motz had an economical run-up and an intense desire to be in the thick of the action. Despite his size, he showed tremendous stamina and always came back for more. He had an uncomplicated approach to bowling: bowled at a lively pace and usually moved the ball off the pitch. He baffled many batsmen with his effective out-swinger.

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. 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, and scored 103 not out against Otago in 1967/68, making his only first-class century inside an hour. On tour to Australia in 1967/68, he scored 94 against South Australia, including 76 runs from boundaries (6 sixes and 10 fours).

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. 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. He took 81 wickets on the tour, at a bowling average of 19, including 19 wickets in the five Tests. 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. In his last Test, the third Test against England at The Oval in August 1969, 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). But there was no denying Motz's class as a capable medium-pacer. He dismissed the obdurate English opener Geoffrey Boycott on no fewer than six occasions. As a beefy lower-order slogger Motz was a dangerous customer, and made three fifties, all against England.

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

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. After his retirement from cricket, he became a taxi driver. He also ran a sports business, and then ran a pub in Timaru. He died in Christchurch. He was found dead at his home by his former captain, Graham Dowling. He was survived by his two daughters from his first marriage.