1946 – Birth of Mike Procter
One of the greatest allrounders of all time, Mike Procter was born today. South Africa’s international ban limited him to just seven Tests, yet his impact was undeniable. Bowling at tremendous pace off the wrong foot, he took 26 wickets at 13.57 in his final series (1969-70) as South Africa swept Australia 4-0. Procter achieved three hat-tricks in County Championship matches and another in a B&H Cup semi-final in 1977. His batting was equally formidable, including six consecutive first-class centuries in 1970-71. Later, as ICC match referee, he oversaw controversial incidents such as Pakistan’s forfeited Test at The Oval (2006) and Harbhajan Singh’s suspension in Sydney (2007-08). He also served as South Africa’s convenor of selectors.