South Africa

Mike Procter

Born: September 15, 1946, Durban, Natal

Mike Procter bio

Michael John Procter, widely known as Mike Procter, is regarded as one of the most exceptional cricket players in the history of the game. Unfortunately, his opportunities to display his extraordinary talents on the international stage were severely limited due to South Africa’s isolation during apartheid. Nonetheless, his performances during the seven Test matches he did play, all against Australia, strongly suggest that he would have shared company with other legendary allrounders of the late 20th century such as Ian Botham, Imran Khan, Kapil Dev, and Richard Hadlee.

Procter’s statistics in those seven Tests are nothing short of remarkable. He took an impressive 41 wickets at an average of only 16 runs apiece, showcasing his exceptional bowling abilities. Moreover, he displayed great skill with the bat, averaging 34.83 in the second of the two series. These numbers highlight the immense potential that South Africa lost due to their sporting isolation.

Though his international career was limited, Procter’s contributions in the domestic circuit were nothing short of spectacular. He played for the English county side Gloucestershire, a team to which he was fiercely loyal. During his time with Gloucestershire, Procter delivered a string of remarkable performances that left a lasting impact. Perhaps the most awe-inspiring feat was his ability to score six centuries in consecutive first-class innings while playing for Rhodesia in the early 1970s, a record that stands as a testament to his natural talent and exceptional skill.

Following the end of his playing career, Procter transitioned to coaching, taking up the role of coach for the South African national team as they made their return to the international stage. His experience, expertise, and dedication undoubtedly contributed to the success of the team during this crucial period in their cricketing history.

Procter’s influence extended beyond coaching as he later became a member of the International Cricket Council’s elite panel of match referees. However, controversy seemed to follow him in this role. Notably, he officiated matches during two highly contentious incidents. The first instance was the controversial Test match at The Oval in 2006, wherein Pakistan forfeited due to accusations of ball-tampering. Procter was again at the center of attention during the infamous Sydney Test of 2007-08 when he banned Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh for racially abusing an opposition player. While these incidents may have overshadowed his accomplishments on the field, they highlight Procter’s commitment to fairness and integrity within the game.

In 2008, Procter decided to step down from his role as match referee to take on a new responsibility as South Africa’s convener of selectors. This position allowed him to contribute positively to the development and growth of cricket in his homeland.

Though his international career may have been curtailed due to South Africa’s isolation, Mike Procter’s influence and impact on the game cannot be understated. His exceptional abilities as both a batsman and a bowler, coupled with his dedication and loyalty, mark him as one of the greatest cricketers South Africa has produced.

Mike Procter career stats

Batting stats

Batting Matches Innings Nos Runs High score Ave BF SR 100s 50s 4s 6s Ct St
Tests 7 10 1 226 48 25.11 - - 0 0 - 3 4 0
T20Is - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ODIs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
FC 401 667 58 21936 254 36.01 - - 48 109 - - 325 0
List A 271 256 19 6624 154* 27.94 - - 5 36 - - 91 0
T20s - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Bowling stats

Bowling Matches Innings Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10w
Tests 7 14 1514 616 41 6/73 9/103 15.02 2.44 36.9 3 1 0
T20Is - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ODIs - - - - - - - - - - - - -
FC 401 - 65458 27679 1417 9/71 - 19.53 2.53 46.1 - 70 15
List A 271 - 12347 6454 344 6/13 6/13 18.76 3.13 35.8 10 7 0
T20s - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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