Former Australia Test captain and coach Bob Simpson has died at the age of 89, leaving behind a remarkable legacy as one of the most influential figures in Australian cricket.

Simpson represented Australia in 62 Test matches between 1957 and 1978, scoring 4,869 runs at an average of 46.81, including 10 centuries. A versatile cricketer, he also claimed 71 wickets with his leg spin and earned a reputation as one of the finest slip fielders of his era.

After first retiring in 1968, Simpson made a dramatic return to the international stage a decade later. At 41, he was recalled as Test captain in 1978 to steady the team during the turmoil of World Series Cricket, when several senior players had defected to the breakaway competition.

“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. 

He added, “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. His return as captain during the advent of World Series Cricket was a wonderful service to the game, and his coaching later laid the foundation for a golden generation of Australian cricket.”

Simpson took charge as Australia’s coach in 1986, at a time when the national side had gone three years without a Test series victory. Under his guidance, Allan Border’s team sparked a dramatic revival, winning the 1987 World Cup and reclaiming supremacy in Test series against England and the West Indies.

In the early 1990s, Simpson nurtured a new crop of talent, including Mark Waugh, Shane Warne, Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Glenn McGrath and Ricky Ponting, who would go on to dominate world cricket for more than a decade. He stepped down in 1996 but continued contributing to the sport with short coaching stints at Leicestershire, Lancashire, and the Netherlands, as well as consultancy work with India.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute, writing on social media: “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.”

Source: BBC

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