Former Australian captain and coach Bob Simpson passes away at 89

Former Australia Test captain and their first full-time coach Bob Simpson passed away aged 89 on August 16. The Australian veteran, who was considered as one of the most influential figures in the history of Australian cricket, breathed his last in Sydney. 

Simpson played 62 Tests and two ODIs across two stints between 1957 and 1978. The batting all-rounder registered 4869 Test runs in 111 innings at an average of 46.81 with 27 fifties and 10 centuries. He also picked up 71 wickets in the 84 innings bowled in Test cricket.

Simpson was a domestic legend with 21029 runs and 349 wickets to his name. Having initially retired in 1968, he came back as Test captain after the World Series Cricket schism in 1977. At the age of 41, the selfless Simpson led five home and away Tests against India and West Indies, respectively.

He played a vital role alongside Allan Border in setting up Australia's cricketing culture in a team that consisted the likes of David Boon, Dean Jones, Steve Waugh, Craig McDermott and Merv Hughes. He also coached a list of Australian greats like Shane Warne, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath and Ricky Ponting until he stood down in 1996.

Cricket Australia's chairperson Mike Baird acknowledged Simpson's contribution to Australian cricket and mourned the passing away of Simpson.

"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. Bob's decision to come out of retirement to successfully lead the Australian team during the advent of World Series Cricket in 1977 was a wonderful service to the game, and his coaching set the foundation for a golden era for Australian cricket," stated Baird, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

He also served as Rajasthan’s coaching advisor in the Ranji Trophy and later as a consultant with India’s men’s team during the late 1990s. Other than this, Simpson coached Leicestershire and Lancashire for short periods in the County Championship.

One of his landmark coaching achievements came into his 70s with Netherlands when he helped them through a successful qualification campaign to reach the 2007 World Cup. He is also a member of the ICC Hall of Fame and the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.