NEW DELHI: Former South African all-rounder and national coach
Mike Procter
is seriously ill and in critical condition in intensive care, a news report citing his family stated on Monday.
A source close to the family, speaking anonymously, verified to AFP that Procter's condition was 'very serious' following the report published on the prominent news site News24.
The report, citing a statement from Procter's wife Maryna and two daughters, disclosed that he was undergoing treatment at uMhlanga Hospital, located near the eastern city of Durban.
"Mike experienced a complication during routine surgery last week. While recovering in the ICU, he suffered a cardiac incident. He is currently in the ICU working on his recovery," it said.
Procter's international playing career with South Africa was cut short in 1970 when his country was excluded from world cricket because of its apartheid government.
Before the ban, South Africa won six of the seven Tests in which he played, all against Australia.
He was renowned primarily as a fearsome fast bowler, taking 41 wickets at an average of 15.02 runs in his seven Tests.
But he was also a flamboyant batsman, and equalled a world batting record when he hit six first-class centuries in successive innings.
After South Africa became a democracy and returned to international cricket, Procter became coach of the international side and led them to the semi-finals of the 1992 Cricket World Cup.
Procter played first-class cricket for 16 years, including 14 seasons with English county Gloucestershire, five of them as captain, where he achieved legendary status.
In South Africa, he played most of his cricket for Natal, the province where he was born.
His six successive centuries were made for the then Rhodesia between 1970 and 1971, culminating in a career-best 254 against Western Province.
He scored 21,082 runs in first-class cricket at an average of 36.92, hitting 47 centuries, and took 1,357 wickets at an average of 19.07 runs.
(With inputs from AFP)
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