Bob Simpon, former Australian captain and coach, has passed away at the age of 89. Simpson played 62 Test matches for his country, averaging close to 47. He also took 71 wickets with his leg-breaks. At the age of 41, he returned to lead Australia when their incumbent players ended up participating in Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket.
Later on, in 1986, he was named the coach of a struggling Australian side. With Simpson and Allan Border at the helm of affairs, they resurrected the side’s fortunes. With Simpson as the coach, Australia won four Ashes rubbers, beat the West Indies in their own backyard after nearly two decades, and emerged victorious in the 1987 World Cup. Simpson was the consultant of the Indian set-up in the 1999 World Cup. He also helped the Nepal cricket team during their nascent stages.
His highest Test score of 311 came against England at Old Trafford in 1964. He also essayed double tons versus the West Indies and England, in Barbados and Adelaide, respectively. Simpson’s other prominent knocks include his 153 in Cape Town and a couple of hundreds against India in the 1967-68 series in Australia. Simpson’s battling 94 in Durban, with Australia being asked to follow on, is also remembered fondly.
He led Australia in 39 Tests, with his side winning 12 and losing 12 matches. In 1977-78, when he famously made a comeback, he captained Australia to a Test series win over India. In that series, Simpson also composed hundreds in Adelaide and Perth. However, against a much stronger West Indies side, he couldn’t replicate the success.
Simpson, one of the finest slip fielders, also took 110 catches in just 62 Tests. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that with him as the coach, Australia went on to produce great slip fielders like Mark Taylor and Mark Waugh.