Cricket Legend Bob Simpson Dies at 89

Bob Simpson, one of Australian cricket’s most towering figures, passed away at 89, leaving behind a legacy as a player, captain, and coach that shaped the sport for decades. Cricket Australia confirmed his death on Saturday, celebrating a career that spanned 62 Tests and two One-Day Internationals from 1957 to 1978.

Simpson amassed 4,869 Test runs, including 10 centuries and 27 half-centuries, with a standout 311-run triple-century against England at Old Trafford in 1964, one of only seven by an Australian. A masterful slip-fielder with 110 catches, he also claimed 71 wickets and captained Australia in 39 Tests. His first-class debut for New South Wales came at just 16, marking the start of an illustrious career.

As coach from 1986 to 1996, Simpson led Australia to the 1987 World Cup, four Ashes victories, and the 1995 Frank Worrell Trophy, ending a 17-year drought against the West Indies. His return from retirement in 1977 to captain Australia during the World Series Cricket era was a defining act of service.

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The Australian team will honor Simpson with a moment’s silence and black armbands during Saturday’s one-day international against South Africa in Cairns. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute on X, writing, “Bob Simpson’s extraordinary service to Australian cricket spanned generations. He set the highest standards as a player, captain, and era-defining coach. May he rest in peace.”

Inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2013, Simpson was lauded by Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird as a “brilliant opening batter, incredible slips fielder, and handy spin bowler” whose leadership laid the foundation for a golden era. His contributions as a player and coach continue to inspire Australian cricket, cementing his place as a true icon of the game.

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