Sporting legends : Mike Procter - South African all rounder cricketing icon - Career HLs, videos

 


Michael John Procter, widely known as Mike Procter, was born on 15 September 1946 in Durban, South Africa. A fiery fast bowler and a destructive batsman, he became a symbol of South Africa’s cricketing golden era in the late 1960s and early 1970s—a career sadly cut short at the international level due to the country’s sporting isolation during apartheid.

Style of Play

Procter was the definition of a true all-rounder:

  • Bowling: A right-arm fast bowler with an unusual bounding action, generating sharp pace and late swing. He was capable of long, hostile spells and was known for sudden bursts of wickets.
  • Batting: A powerful right-handed middle-order batsman, he was aggressive, attacking, and capable of changing the course of a game within a session.
  • Fielding: Athletic and safe in the field, he contributed across positions, adding value as a complete cricketer.

Career Highlights in Detail

Test Career

  • Represented South Africa in 7 Tests between 1967 and 1970.
  • Scored 226 runs at 25.11 with 1 half-century.
  • Claimed 41 wickets at a phenomenal average of 15.02.
  • Best bowling: 6/73 vs Australia at Durban (1970).
  • His career was tragically limited to just 7 Tests due to South Africa’s exclusion from international cricket in 1970.


First-Class Career

  • Played 401 first-class matches.
  • Batting: Scored 21,936 runs at an average of 36.01, including 48 centuries and 109 half-centuries.
  • Bowling: Claimed 1,417 wickets at 19.53, with best figures of 9/71.
  • Remarkably, he scored six consecutive first-class centuries for Rhodesia in the 1970–71 season—an achievement only matched by Don Bradman and C.B. Fry.

Best Bowling Performances in Detail

  • 6/73 vs Australia, Durban, 1970: In a decisive spell, Procter destroyed Australia’s batting order, helping South Africa secure a series victory.
  • Prolific County Career (Gloucestershire): Known as the heartbeat of Gloucestershire cricket in the 1970s, he often produced devastating spells. One highlight was his 9/71 in a county match, leaving batsmen clueless against his pace and movement.
  • Consistent Match-Winner: Across his career, he regularly produced match hauls of 10 wickets or more, blending aggression with accuracy.

Batting Memories

  • His streak of six consecutive first-class centuries remains one of the most remarkable batting feats in cricket history.
  • Scored several explosive knocks for Gloucestershire, often lifting his team from precarious positions with his counter-attacking style.
  • His dual ability to dominate with both bat and ball made him a rare match-winner on any surface.


Legacy

  • Unfulfilled Test Career: Mike Procter could have been one of cricket’s greatest all-rounders at the international level, comparable to Sir Garfield Sobers, Ian Botham, or Kapil Dev. Political circumstances, however, restricted him to just 7 Tests.
  • County Cricket Icon: At Gloucestershire, he became a cult hero—his all-round brilliance led the county to many memorable victories, and he was admired for his commitment and sportsmanship.
  • Later Roles: After retirement, he served as a coach, administrator, and ICC match referee, further contributing to the game.
  • Symbol of What Could Have Been: Procter’s curtailed Test career remains one of cricket’s greatest “what if” stories. Had he played a full career, he would likely be remembered among the finest all-rounders in the history of the game.

Conclusion

Mike Procter was a force of nature—a bowler capable of dismantling batting line-ups, a batsman who could dominate attacks with power and flair, and a cricketer who inspired teammates with his intensity. Though denied a long international career, his first-class and county records underline his greatness. In the annals of cricket, Procter’s name endures as one of the most talented and impactful players of his generation, a legend remembered both for his brilliance and for the career that circumstances never allowed to fully flourish.


Watch Procter bowl a devastating over vs Hampshire for Gloucestershire in the County championship in 1970s 


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