Former Australian Test captain and coach Bob Simpson died at the age of 89.
Simpson played 62 Tests for Australia between 1957 and 1978, scored 4,869 runs – including 10 centuries – an average of 46.81.
He also took 71 wickets with his leg spin and was famous as one of the best slip fielders in the game.
Initially after retiring from playing in 1968, Simpson made an extraordinary comeback as a Test captain in 1978 at the age of 41, after several Australian players joined the Breakawway World Series Cricket Competition.
Cricket Australia Chairman Mike Baird said, “Bob Simpson was one of the great people of Australian cricket, and it is a lucky day for someone that he has seen him playing or who has benefited from his intellect.”
“As a brilliant inauguration batsman, incredible slip fielder and easy spin bowler, Bob was the mainstay of a very strong Australian team in the 1960s, and he became a leader in the game as Australian and New South Wales captain and coach.
“Bob’s decision to successfully lead the Australian team during the World Series Cricket Advent in 1977 was a wonderful service to the game, and his coaching set the foundation for a golden generation of Australian cricket.”
When Simpson took over as Australia coach in 1986, the side did not win a Test series for three years, but he oversee a dramatic revival, which became one of the best teams of all time.
A new team captained by Alan Border offered Steve Waugh and David Boon’s choice and won the 1987 World Cup and won the Test series on England and West Indies.
In the early 1990s, Simpson introduced players such as Mark Waugh, Shane Warne, Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Glenn McGrath and Ricky Ponting – established the stage for the era of Australian dominance.
After leaving the post in 1996, he had a counseling role with India, along with the coaching of Lessesterreshire, Lancashire and Netherlands.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanis wrote on social media, “Bob Simpson’s extraordinary service for Australian cricket spread generations.”
“As a player, Captain and then Era-Defining Coach, he set the highest standards for the leadership of his and the champion. He would long be remembered by the game he loved.”
