Cricket Legend Bob Simpson Dies Aged 89
Australian cricket is mourning the loss of one of its giants. Former captain and coach Bob Simpson has passed away at the age of 89.
Simpson’s impact on the game stretched across decades. Between 1957 and 1978, he played 62 Tests, amassing 4,869 runs at an average of 46.81. He struck 10 centuries along the way, while also claiming 71 wickets with his leg spin. And in the slips? Few were sharper.
His career carried an unusual twist. After retiring in 1968, Simpson stunned the cricket world by returning a decade later. At 41, he was asked to captain Australia in 1978 during the upheaval of World Series Cricket. It was a comeback that defined resilience and loyalty.
“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,” said Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird.
“As a brilliant opening batter, incredible slip fielder and handy spin bowler, Bob was a mainstay of a very strong Australian team in the 1960s, and he became a leader across the game as Australian and New South Wales captain and as a coach.
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 generation of Australian cricket.”
Simpson’s coaching career was no less remarkable. When he took charge in 1986, Australia hadn’t won a Test series in three years. Under his guidance, fortunes shifted dramatically.
With Allan Border at the helm, and stars like Steve Waugh and David Boon in the ranks, the team lifted the 1987 World Cup. Soon after, they toppled both England and the mighty West Indies.
By the early ’90s, Simpson was nurturing the next wave of icons. Mark Waugh, Shane Warne, Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Glenn McGrath and Ricky Ponting all emerged under his watch. It laid the foundations for one of the most dominant eras the sport has ever seen.
After stepping down in 1996, Simpson took his knowledge abroad, enjoying stints with Leicestershire, Lancashire, the Netherlands and later India.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute online, writing: “Bob Simpson’s extraordinary service to Australian cricket spanned generations.
“As a player, captain and then era-defining coach, he set the highest of standards for himself and the champions he led. He will be long remembered by the game he loved.”
Bob Simpson leaves behind a legacy not just of runs, wickets and catches, but of leadership and vision. For Australian cricket, his name is etched in gold.
