South Africa’s beloved cricket all-rounder and former national coach, 77-year-old Mike Procter, is currently seriously ill and receiving intensive care, according to his family.
In a statement released by Procter’s charitable foundation, his wife Maryna and two daughters shared that he is being treated in a hospital near his hometown of Durban, a beautiful city located on the Indian Ocean.
Procter encountered complications during routine surgery last week, and while recovering in the intensive care unit, he suffered a cardiac incident. The family requests that everyone keep him in their thoughts and prayers as he works towards recovery.
Procter’s international playing career with South Africa was unfortunately cut short in 1970 due to the country’s exclusion from world cricket as a result of its apartheid government. However, before the ban, he showcased his exceptional skills, helping South Africa win six out of seven Tests, all against Australia.
Procter was primarily known as a fearsome fast bowler, taking an impressive 41 wickets at an average of 15.02 runs in his seven Tests. In addition to his bowling prowess, he was also a flamboyant batsman, achieving a world batting record by hitting six first-class centuries in consecutive innings.
After South Africa transitioned to democracy and returned to international cricket, Procter took on the role of coach for the national side. Under his guidance, the team reached the semi-finals of the 1992 Cricket World Cup, showcasing his leadership abilities and passion for the sport.
Procter’s cricket career spanned 16 years, including 14 seasons with the English county team Gloucestershire, where he achieved legendary status as both a player and captain.
In South Africa, he represented Natal, his home province, and made headlines with his remarkable six successive centuries for Rhodesia between 1970 and 1971, culminating in a career-best score of 254 against Western Province.
Throughout his first-class career, Procter scored an impressive 21,082 runs at an average of 36.92, including 47 centuries, and took 1,357 wickets at an average of 19.07 runs.
As the cricketing community and fans around the world rally behind Mike Procter, we hope for his swift recovery and send our thoughts and prayers to him and his family during this challenging time.
