Bob Simpson, the former Australia cricket captain and coach, has died in Sydney at the age of 89. He was a towering figure in Australian cricket for more than four decades, contributing as a player, captain, coach, law-maker, referee and commentator.
Simpson made his Test debut in 1957 and famously returned to captain Australia at the age of 41 following the upheaval of World Series Cricket in 1977. He scored 4,869 runs in 62 Tests at an average of 46.81, including 10 centuries, and took 71 wickets. His 311 against England at Old Trafford in 1964 made him only the second Australian after Don Bradman to score a Test triple century.
As Australia's first full-time coach from 1986 to 1996, Simpson oversaw the team's transformation into a world power. Under his guidance, Australia won the 1987 World Cup, regained the Ashes in England in 1989 and defeated the West Indies away in 1995. Former captain Steve Waugh paid tribute, saying: 'No one gave more to Australian cricket than Bob Simpson... He made me a better player and he made Australian cricket great.'
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also led tributes, describing Simpson's service as 'extraordinary' and noting he 'set the highest standards for himself and the champions he led.' Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird praised Simpson's decision to return from retirement during the World Series Cricket era as 'a wonderful service to the game.'
Simpson was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1978, upgraded to Officer in 2007. He also served on the MCC committee that rewrote the laws of cricket in the late 1990s and coached in five Test-playing nations as well as emerging cricket countries.
