Personal milestones are great, but if your team doesn’t win then there isn’t much point to them.
That’s the opinion of legendary allrounder Mike Procter, who knows a thing or two about milestones.
The sporting boycott placed upon South Africa during Apartheid meant ‘Proccie’ played just the seven matches for his country – all against Australia – and gave the world a glimpse of what he is capable of with 41 wickets at an average of just 15.
But with the likes of Natal, Western Province and Rhodesia, and most famously Gloucestershire, he was a star performer for the better part of 16 years. In fact, so good was he during his time in England with Gloucestershire that fans jokingly renamed the county ‘Proctershire’.
Procter, a regular around the fields during the Evergreen Lifestyle-sponsored 2023 Over-50s Cricket World Cup, cites his favourite career highlights from his time playing County Cricket.
“The higher the level you play, the more the highlights stand out,” he said. “Gloucestershire had never won a trophy, then we won the Gillette Cup in 1973 and I played a major role in that, getting a 100 in the semifinal and 94 in the final.
“I was the captain in 1977 when we won the Benson & Hedges competition. In the semifinal, Hampshire were 18/1 (chasing 180) and I got four wickets in five balls, including Barry Richards and Gordon Greenidge [to finish with remarkable figures of 11-5-13-6].
“Those types of games really stand out, but playing for your country and getting a few wickets or a few runs, getting a victory for your team, that is what it’s all about. Your milestones are secondary to what the team requires. I always enjoyed doing well when we won … never when we didn’t win.”
About Evergreen Lifestyle
Established in 2008, Evergreen Lifestyle is South Africa’s premium retirement brand with seven operating villages in the Western Cape and Gauteng, and a further six in the pipeline. The business began with a vision to change the retirement landscape in South Africa, offering a partnership for life based on five key pillars: physical security, financial peace of mind, continuous care, a sense of community and exceptional hospitality.
You’ll find Evergreen’s award-winning retirement villages in the most beautiful parts of the country, at the end of sun dappled country lanes, perched on majestic mountain slopes, and within walking distance of our beaches, rivers, and wetlands. And you’ll find vibrant fun-loving communities enjoying the finer things in life – like good food, great company, lasting friendships, and a sense of belonging that is enabled by the resort style facilities and amenities on offer.
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