Australian legend Bob Simpson passes away at 89

Bob Simpson was one of the greats of Australian cricket

On Saturday (16th August), Australian Cricket, along with the rest of the cricket fraternity, was jolted by a massive blow. Great Bob Simpson, the former test captain and the first full-time coach of Australian Cricket Team, passed away at the age of 89. 

Bob Simpson was one of the big names in Australian cricket, who played a massive role in shaping cricket in Australia, playing 62 tests between 1957 and 1978. He scored 4869 runs and picked 71 wickets. 

Not only this, he was also regarded as one of the greatest slip fielders of his time. Simpson made his First-Class debut for New South Wales at the age of 17 and ended his career with 21,029 runs and picked up 349 wickets with his legspin.

Bob Simpson called time on his career first in 1968 after playing 50 tests, of which he captained 29. However, he then made a return as test captain when Australia needed him after the World Series Cricket schism in 1977. 

At the age of 41, he captained Australia in five tests against India and five away tests against a full-strength West Indies side. He also slammed ten test centuries, all of them made as captain. His best knock was 311, which came against England in Manchester in 1964, which was his first hundred in his 30th test. 

In 1986, he was again called by Cricket Australia after they failed to win the series for two years. He, along with captain Allan Border, changed Australian cricket. Thanks to his efforts, Australia won the World Cup in 1987 and regained the Ashes in 1989, which they would hold until 2005. 

Bob Simpson was one of the greats of Australian cricket – Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird

“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,” Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird said. 

“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.”

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