Mike Procter, the legendary cricketer, died last Saturday in his hometown of Durban. He was being treated in hospital. "He had a complication during the surgery. He lost consciousness and never regained it," his wife Maryna Procter said, according to AFP. On Monday, his family said he had suffered a "cardiac incident". He was recovering in intensive care at a hospital after a routine operation.

Procter made history as an outstanding all-rounder who became South Africa's first post-apartheid coach. He also had a controversial period as an International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee.

Procter's international career with South Africa came to an end in 1970. His country was banned from world cricket by the apartheid government. But through his messages and the importance of his words, his stature grew significantly. Procter then said: "There are much more important things. Yes, I have lost a Test career. But what is one Test career compared to the suffering of 40 million people?" he said, in what became a message of unity and motivation for many."

"A lot of people have lost a lot more in those years, and if by missing out on a Test career we have helped to change an unjust system, then that's fine with me. Before his ban, South Africa won six of the seven matches he played. All of them were against Australia," he commented.

Always known as a great bowler, taking 41 wickets at an average of 15.02 in his seven matches, he was also a flamboyant batsman and set a world batting record when he scored six consecutive first-class centuries. 

With South Africa's return to democracy, cricket was given a new lease of life and Procter became a key figure in the transition. He also made the leap into coaching. Procter was appointed coach of the national team and led South Africa to the semi-finals of the 1992 World Cup. His legendary status came after 16 years of first-class cricket. He played 14 seasons for Gloucestershire, five of them as captain.

Procter's former Gloucestershire teammate David Graveney said: "The South African was a fantastic player and rightly regarded as one of the best all-rounders to ever represent Gloucestershire. 

He added: "I don't think people realise that when Mike played, he was playing through a lot of pain in his knee, but that didn't stop him from playing at the level that he did. He was one of the best I have ever played with. "To say 'Procter and Gamble' was a very good way to describe Mike. He gave the biggest performances in the biggest games.

In South Africa, Procter played most of his cricket for Natal, the province where he was born. However, he scored six consecutive centuries for the then Rhodesia between 1970 and 1971. His career-best 254 came against Western Province.

He scored 21,082 first-class runs at an average of 36.92, with 47 centuries, and took 1,357 wickets at an average of 19.07.
Journalist Pat Murphy, who worked with Procter, paid tribute to the "great all-rounder".

"I wrote two books with him. The first was a hilarious challenge as he could barely remember any of his prodigious achievements. Look it up in Wisden, mate,' he used to say. You could never be mad at a great man," Murphy's said in X.