Mike Procter is a former South African cricketer and cricket administrator, born on September 15, 1946, in Durban, Natal, South Africa. Renowned for his fast bowling and aggressive batting, Procter was a dominant force in international and domestic cricket during the late 1960s and 1970s.
Cricket Career: Procter's cricket career is notable for his exceptional all-round abilities. He was primarily a right-arm fast bowler and a hard-hitting middle-order batsman. His unique bowling action was distinctive and highly effective. Unfortunately, due to apartheid, Procter's opportunities to play official Test cricket were severely limited. South Africa was isolated internationally when Procter was at the peak of his abilities, which meant his international appearances were confined to unofficial Tests against rebel touring sides.
Despite the limited international exposure, Procter left a significant mark in domestic cricket, particularly in the English county circuit with Gloucestershire, and in the South African domestic competitions. In English county cricket, he was incredibly successful, being one of the few players to achieve the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in a season multiple times. His aggressive style and prolific scoring made him a crowd favorite.
Post-playing Career: After retiring from professional cricket, Mike Procter transitioned to various roles within the cricket world. He worked as a coach, commentator, and cricket administrator. He served as a match referee for the International Cricket Council (ICC), overseeing some of the most important matches in international cricket, including Test matches and One Day Internationals. His tenure as a match referee was not without controversy; most notably, he was involved during the 2006 Oval Test dispute and the 2008 Sydney Test, where racial allegations were made.
Procter has also been active in charitable activities, especially focusing on cricket development within South Africa. His legacy in cricket, both as a player and an administrator, is significant, considering the disruptions caused by the political landscape of his era.