Former Australian captain and coach Bob Simpson, a true cricketing icon, whose legacy shaped modern Australian cricket (ICC Cricket)
Simpson passed away in Sydney at the age of 89, conferring with Australian cricket a towering legacy over a generation. His death, an end of an era for a man who had been molding generations of the sport, was confirmed on Saturday by Cricket Australia.
Born in Sydney, Simpson's journey began to make cricketing waves in 1957 when he first toured with the national team. Over his career, he played 62 Test matches and captained 39: with a batting average that pleased many at that time 46.81.
Quite late into his career, during his 30th Test match, he made his first century, historic a whopping 311 runs at Old Trafford in 1964 cementing his name as one of the finest all-rounders Australia ever produced.
Simpson hung his boots in international cricket in 1967. However, his love for the game brought him back after almost 10 years at age 41 during the stormy World Series Cricket period. His return went a long way toward steadying the team and showed his commitment toward Australian cricket.
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"A lifelong servant of cricket, a player, a captain and a coach, he set himself and the champions he coached the highest of standards," said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praising Simpson. Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird echoed this sentiment, especially highlighting how Simpson was critical in steering the team through difficult times in the 1960s and again in 1977 when his comeback provided much-needed direction.
Under the 1980s Simpson, perhaps, saw his most enduring impacts, being Australia's first full-time national coach. Under Simpson's watch, the team regained international prominence, putting into place the foundations upon which a golden generation would later build.
He instilled discipline and tactical acumen and insisted on excellence from greats such as Shane Warne and other stars of the 1990s.
Simpson's statistics were phenomenal for his times: Run scored in excess of 21,000 first-class runs with an average of 56.22, 60 centuries, 349 wickets taken.
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He was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985 as early acknowledgment of his contribution.
Bob Simpson will be remembered not just for his stupendous numbers but for the values he imparted to Australian cricket. From his pedestal as a player, captain and coach, he is so close on the heels of becoming a stimulating figure to many generations, turning this stature into a tangible legacy that exists to date.
With his passing went one of the true architects of modern-day Australian cricket.
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