34 Facts About Mike Procter

Michael John Procter was a South African cricketer, whose involvement in international cricket was limited by South Africa's banishment from world cricket in the 1970s and 1980s.

Mike Procter began his career mainly as a menacing fast bowler, who famously "bowled off the wrong foot", and became well known in the cricketing fraternity for his chest-on action and for his ability to release the ball early in his delivery stride.

Mike Procter rose to prominence as a frontline fast bowler in first-class cricket, and went on to capture 1417 wickets across 401 first-class matches, averaging a healthy 19.53, whereas he showcased his prowess with the ball in List A cricket by picking up 344 wickets at an exceptional average of 18.76.

Mike Procter was one of only three players to score a century and take a hat-trick in the same match while playing for Gloucestershire, and he remains the only player to complete the unique distinction twice for the club, having achieved it against Essex in 1972 and against Leicestershire in 1979.

Mike Procter was named Cricketer of the Year for South Africa in 1967, and by Wisden in 1970, who described him as "One of the rare cricketers who could have found a place in any test team as either a batsman or bowler, and who could win a game single-handed with bat or ball in his hand".

Michael John Mike Procter was born on 15 September 1946 in Durban.

Mike Procter played for the Rest of the World versus England in 1970, and took 15 wickets at an average of 23.93 in five test-format matches.

Mike Procter featured in the first semi-final for World XI side and he shared the new ball with the likes of Imran Khan and John Snow.

Mike Procter clean bowled West Indian veteran Viv Richards with an unplayable delivery which he delivered from over the wicket.

Mike Procter captained the Springbok team that played in three "tests" and three "one day internationals" against an English rebel XI, led by Graham Gooch, that toured South Africa in 1982.

Mike Procter revealed that he once came close to qualifying to play for the England national team in 1980, but his body was tired by the time such news apparently began to spread.

Mike Procter became only the third batsman in the world to score six first-class centuries in six consecutive innings after C B Fry and Don Bradman and the only South African to do so.

Mike Procter capitalized on a costly drop catch by Western Province captain Andre Bruyns, who was on slip, when Procter had only scored two runs, and went on to make the most of the dropped chance by scoring 254 runs, which turned out to be his highest-first-class score.

Mike Procter played for and captained South Africa in one unofficial "Test".

Mike Procter played county cricket for 13 years as an overseas player for Gloucestershire and led them to great success.

Mike Procter destroyed Worcestershire single-handedly in 1977, scoring a century before lunch and taking 13 wickets for 73 runs.

Mike Procter scored another century before lunch in 1979, against Leicestershire, winning the Walter Lawrence Trophy for the season's fastest century, and then ripped through their batsmen with a hat-trick.

Mike Procter captained Gloucestershire with distinction from 1977 to 1981, and was popular with teammates and supporters.

Mike Procter was the Professional Cricketers' Association Player of the Year in 1970 and 1977, and won the Cricket Society Wetherall Award for the Leading All-Rounder in English First-Class Cricket in 1978.

Mike Procter produced a spell for the ages by grabbing everyone's attention capturing 4 wickets in 5 balls playing for Gloucestershire against Hampshire in a crucial semi-final match during the 1977 Benson and Hedges Cup.

Mike Procter ripped through the top order of Hampshire's batting lineup which included the prized scalps of his fellow South African Barry Richards and West Indian opener Gordon Greenidge.

Mike Procter bowled at high pace in his prime but later in his career knee problems caused by the impact of his bull-like body on the bowling crease forced him to turn to off-spin, which he mastered.

Mike Procter had a fearsome bouncer in his repertoire and he possessed the skill of swinging the ball late.

Mike Procter was described by Wisden as "One of the rare cricketers who could have found a place in any test team as either a batsman or bowler and who could win a game single-handed with bat or ball in his hand".

Mike Procter coached South Africa to their first ever Cricket World Cup campaign in 1992, where South Africa caught the attention of everyone by reaching the semi-finals before agonizingly losing to England in a heart-breaking fashion due to broadcasters' costly error.

Mike Procter served as an international cricket commentator, and one of his most memorable moments as a commentator came during the epic semi-final played between Australia and South Africa during the 1999 Cricket World Cup, which ended in a dramatic fashion with scores tied, albeit with a clumsy run of South African tailender Allan Donald.

Mike Procter was involved in several controversial incidents in his career as a match referee.

Mike Procter refereed the forfeited Oval Test of August 2006 when Pakistan refused to take the field after tea in protest at the umpires' decision to penalise them for ball tampering.

At the first hearing Mike Procter established that neither the umpire, nor Ricky Ponting, nor Sachin Tendulkar, who was closest to the incident, had heard anything.

Mike Procter was appointed chairman of selectors of South Africa men's national cricket team in December 2008 by Cricket South Africa.

The Mike Procter Foundation began focusing on transforming the lives of children through sports.

Mike Procter went on to register his charity in the UK in 2018 with the ambition of providing cricket coaching to underprivileged and vulnerable children.

Mike Procter died in uMhlanga on 17 February 2024, at the age of 77, of cardiac arrest due to complications during heart surgery.

Later, Mike Procter understood that Brearley himself considered Mike Procter to be one of his favourite captains.