Bob Simpson, Australia’s first full-time coach and former Test captain, died on August 16 at the age of 89. The Australian veteran, regarded as one of the most significant figures in Australian cricket history, passed away in Sydney.
Simpson appeared in 62 Tests and two ODIs across two periods from 1957 to 1978. The batting all-rounder scored 4869 Test runs in 111 innings at an average of 46.81, including 27 fifties and ten centuries. He also took 71 wickets in 84 innings bowled in Test cricket.
Bob Simpson was a domestic legend, scoring 21029 runs and taking 349 wickets.
After first retiring in 1968, he returned as Test captain following the World Series Cricket split in 1977. The selfless Simpson, 41, captained five home and away Tests against India and the West Indies.
He played an important part, alongside Allan Border, in establishing Australia’s cricketing culture in a team that included David Boon, Dean Jones, Steve Waugh, Craig McDermott, and Merv Hughes. He also coached many of Australia’s greats, including Shane Warne, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, and Ricky Ponting, before retiring in 1996.
Cricket Australia’s chairperson Mike Baird acknowledged Simpson’s contribution to Australian cricket and mourned the passing away of Simpson.
“Bob Simpson was one of the greats of Australian cricket and this is a sad day for anyone fortunate to have watched him play or who benefited from his wisdom. Bob’s decision to come out of retirement to successfully lead the Australian team during the advent of World Series Cricket in 1977 was a wonderful service to the game, and his coaching set the foundation for a golden era for Australian cricket,” stated Baird, as quoted by.
He also served as Rajasthan’s coaching advisor in the Ranji Trophy and later as a consultant with India’s men’s team during the late 1990s. Other than this, Simpson coached Leicestershire and Lancashire for short periods in the County Championship.
One of his landmark coaching achievements came into his 70s with Netherlands when he helped them through a successful qualification campaign to reach the 2007 World Cup. He is also a member of the ICC Hall of Fame and the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.
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