Mike Procter

Mike Procter
Personal information
Full name
Michael John Procter
Born(1946-09-15)15 September 1946
Durban, Natal, Union of South Africa
Died17 February 2024(2024-02-17) (aged 77)
uMhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
NicknameProck, Procky
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm fast
RoleAll rounder
Relations
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 228)20 January 1967 v Australia
Last Test5 March 1970 v Australia
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1965–1981Gloucestershire
1965/66–1988/89Natal
1969/70Western Province
1970/71–1975/76Rhodesia
1987/88Orange Free State
Career statistics
Competition Test FC LA
Matches 7 401 271
Runs scored 226 21,936 6,624
Batting average 25.11 36.01 27.94
100s/50s 0/0 48/109 5/36
Top score 48 254 154*
Balls bowled 1,514 65,404 12,335
Wickets 41 1,417 344
Bowling average 15.02 19.53 18.76
5 wickets in innings 1 70 7
10 wickets in match 0 15 0
Best bowling 6/73 9/71 6/13
Catches/stumpings 4/– 325/– 91/–
Source: CricketArchive, 27 October 2008

Michael John Procter (15 September 1946 – 17 February 2024) 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.[1] A fast bowler and hard-hitting batsman, he was regarded as one of South African cricket's top allrounders.

Procter began his career mainly as a menacing fast bowler, who famously "bowled off the wrong foot",[2][3][4] 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.[5][6] He 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 also showcased his prowess with the ball in List A cricket by picking up 344 wickets at an exceptional average of 18.76.

Procter also gained a reputation for being an outstanding batter of his generation, becoming only one of three players to strike a record six consecutive centuries in first class cricket, alongside Don Bradman and C. B. Fry.[2][4]

Gloucestershire was affectionately nicknamed "Proctershire" when Procter played for Gloucestershire in English county cricket, due to his scoring over 20,000 runs and taking more than 1,000 wickets for the club.[7][8] Procter was also 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.[9]

Following his retirement from playing the game, Procter was active as a coach, commentator and selector, and was appointed a match referee by the ICC. His tenure as referee involved several controversies.

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". He died in 2024.

  1. ^ Bishop, John. "OBITUARY | Mike Procter: A giant of cricket that left an indelible mark at every level of the game". Sport. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b Mukherjee, Abhishek (27 August 2013). "Mike Procter hits six consecutive sixes in a County game against Somerset off Dennis Breakwell". Cricket Country. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  3. ^ Mishra, Priyesh (21 August 2015). "8 Wrong footed bowlers – The most bizarre bowling actions". CricTracker. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b "You ain't seen nothing like the mighty Mike Procter". Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  5. ^ ICC (18 February 2024). "Legendary South African all-rounder Mike Procter dies, aged 77". www.icc-cricket.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  6. ^ "'What's a Test career compared to the suffering of millions?'". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Legendary South Africa all-rounder Mike Procter dies aged 77". Cricbuzz. 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  8. ^ Macpherson, Will (18 February 2024). "South Africa and Gloucestershire all-rounder legend Mike Procter dies, aged 77". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference www.gloscricket.co.uk was invoked but never defined (see the help page).