Caught in the Middle

Monkeygate, Politics and Other Hairy Issues; the Autobiography of Mike Procter

Mike Procter, Lungani Zama

• Publisher: Pitch Publishing
• eBook ISBN:
  9781785313417
• Year: 2017

From quaint beginnings on the lush fields of Hilton College, a whirlwind introduction into the Test arena against Australia announced Mike Procter as a serious contender for the tag of greatest all-rounder of all time. Blessed with pace, swing, and a free-spirited nature at the crease, "Proccie" was primed for the biggest stages. But, like the rest of a fantastic generation of South African sportsmen, his Test career was cut short by politics. Caught in the Middle is a look at Procter's force of will to stamp his mark through county cricket. World Series Cricket also gave him the stage to showcase his full range of skills. In the second half of a lifelong journey with the sport, Procter the coach, manager, and selector for the new South Africa was central to some of the modern era's most iconic and dramatic moments. While in the autumn of his career, Procter the match referee was caught in the middle of the Darrell Hair chronicles, Monkeygate in Australia, and the bomb blast that ended international cricket in Pakistan. A compelling read, Caught in the Middle is the fascinating story of a lifelong love affair with cricket.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Foreword by Mark Nicholas
• Mike Procter and Me
• 1. An untimely blast
• 2. India, a place for new beginnings
• 3. 1992 World Cup
• 4. A Caribbean whistle-stop
• 5. Athers, commentary, and the pain of ’99
• 6. Monkeygate and the mess that followed
• 7. The walk-offs
• 8. The time of my life
• 9. Growing up in the Currie Cup
• 10. Rhodesia and a return to my roots
• 11. The World Series revolution
• 12. A rainbow nation at the end of a political storm
• 13. Selection headaches
• 14. Friends in the game
• 15. Family
• Appendices
• Bibliography
• Index
• Photographs