Long-time friend and team-mate Barry Richards said "a giant has fallen" as he paid tribute to former South African all-rounder Mike Procter, who died aged 77 near Durban on Saturday.

"We were part of each other’s lives," said Richards of his 65-year friendship with Procter.

Richards and Procter, acknowledged as two of South Africa’s greatest cricketers, played against each other as schoolboys and went on to play together for the Natal province and South Africa at both junior and international level.

"Anyone who played for Natal, Rhodesia and Gloucestershire in the 1960s and 70s knew that they were in the presence of a genius," said Richards.

Procter and Richards teamed up for four Tests, starring for South Africa as they won all four matches against Australia in 1969-70 before their international careers were cut short by the international isolation caused by South Africa’s apartheid policy.

Vintcent van der Bijl, who formed a devastating new ball partnership for Natal with Procter, described his former team-mate as "the most unpretentious great cricketer I knew."

Van der Bijl, a former International Cricket Council head of umpires and match referees, said Procter was "a warrior on the field".

"He played the game tough and yet amateur in spirit. He used to end every pre-game session by saying, 'Let’s go and have some fun.' He played the game as it should always be played. It was a real privilege to play with and against him."

Procter was South Africa’s first coach when that period of international isolation ended in 1991.

Fast bowler Allan Donald made his international debut under him.

"I learned a lot from him. Just to listen to him was an experience. He made me aware of what was needed to have the mentality of a fast bowler," he said.

Ali Bacher, former managing director of South African cricket, captained Procter in the series against Australia.

"He was one of the most outstanding cricketers that South Africa has produced. He bowled fast, swinging deliveries and as a batsman was good enough to have batted at number five for any country in the world," he said.

Cricket South Africa president Rihan Richards described Procter as "not just a giant on the field but a beacon of hope and inspiration off it."

Dolphins Cricket, formerly the Natal Cricket Union, said in a statement that Procter’s "legacy will endure as an inspiration for generations to come."

"His career as a world-class cricketer was outstanding, his leadership prowess was noteworthy and his role as a cricket administrator and coach was remarkable."

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club announced it would fly its flag at half-mast until the start of the English county season as a tribute to the man who played in 482 matches for the club and was captain from 1977 to 1981.

Mike Procter dies at 77

South Africa cricket legend and former national coach Mike Procter died on Saturday at the age of 77, his wife told AFP.

"He suffered a complication during surgery, became unconscious and never woke up," Maryna Procter said.

Procter was an outstanding all-rounder who became South Africa's first coach in the post-isolation era and had a controversial stint as an International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee.

On Monday his family revealed that he had suffered a "cardiac incident" while recovering in a hospital intensive care unit following routine surgery.

Procter was being treated in a hospital near his hometown, the coastal city of Durban.

Procter's international playing career with South Africa was cut short in 1970 when his country was banished from world cricket because of its apartheid government.

However, he refused to feel bitter over being deprived of a lengthy Test career.

"Yes, I lost a Test career. But what is a Test career compared to the suffering of 40 million people?" he famously said.

- 'Unjust system' -

"Lots of people lost a great deal more in those years, and if by missing out on a Test career we played a part in changing an unjust system, then that is fine by me."

Before the ban, South Africa won six of the seven Tests in which he played, all against Australia.

Procter 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.

Post-democracy, South Africa returned to international cricket, Procter became coach of the international side and led them to the semi-finals of the 1992 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.

David Graveney, a former Gloucestershire team-mate of Procter, said the South African "was a fantastic player and quite rightly regarded as one of the best all-rounders that has ever represented Gloucestershire".

He added: "I don't think people realise that when Mike played he was playing through great pain in his knee, but that didn't stop him from performing at the level he did. He was just one of the best I ever played with.

"The phrase 'Proctershire' was very apt for Mike. He put in the biggest performances in the biggest games."

In South Africa, Procter 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.

Journalist Pat Murphy who worked alongside Procter hailed "the superb all-rounder".

"Wrote 2 books with him, the 1st an hilarious challenge, as he could hardly remember any of his prodigious feats. 'Look it up in Wisden, mate' he'd say. Couldn't ever be annoyed with a great guy," Murphy wrote on X.

Procter leaves behind his wife and two children.