Former Australian cricketer, captain and coach Bob Simpson dies at age 89
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Cricket Australia on Saturday confirmed the death of Simpson, who represented Australia in 62 tests and two one-day internationals between 1957 and 1978.
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Simpson scored 4,869 test runs, including 10 centuries and 27 half-centuries, and took 71 wickets, while captaining Australia in 39 tests.
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Born in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Marrickville, the third son of immigrant parents from Scotland, Simpson was just 16 when he made his first-class debut for New South Wales state against Victoria.
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'I was a naturally ambitious person anyway and never had any doubts I could go further,' Simpson said. 'It sounds cocky but I always believed in my own talents.'
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He coached Australia from 1986 to 1996 and under his firm and steady guidance, Australia won the 1987 World Cup, four Ashes campaigns and in 1995 the Frank Worrell Trophy, ending a 17-year drought against the West Indies.
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On Saturday night, the Australian team paid tribute to Simpson with a moment's silence before its Twenty20 match against South Africa at Cairns in northern Australia. The Australians wore black armbands, as well.
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Simpson made his test debut against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1957, and his first century came in an Ashes test at Old Trafford in Manchester in 1964, when Simpson went on to score 311. He is one of only seven Australians to make a triple-century.
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He was also one of the greatest slip-fielders, taking 110 catches.
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Honoured by prime minister
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among the first to pay tribute to Simpson.
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'Bob Simpson's extraordinary service to Australian cricket spanned generations. As a player, captain and then era-defining coach, he set the highest standards for himself and the champions he led,' Albanese wrote on X. 'He will be long remembered by the game he loved. May he rest in peace.'
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Simpson was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2013.
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'As a brilliant opening batter, incredible slips fielder and handy spin bowler, Bob was a mainstay of a very strong Australian team in the 1960s, and he became a leader across the game as Australian and New South Wales captain and as a coach,' Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird said in a statement.
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Toronto Sun
2 days ago
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Former Australian cricketer, captain and coach Bob Simpson dies at age 89
Published Aug 16, 2025 • 2 minute read Australian cricketer Shane Warne, left, talks with former Australian coach Bob Simpson at The North Sydney Oval, in Sydney, Australia, Nov. 25, 1997. (AAP Image via AP) AP SYDNEY (AP) — Bob Simpson, a former player, captain and coach and one of the most influential figures in Australian cricket, has died at the age of 89. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Cricket Australia on Saturday confirmed the death of Simpson, who represented Australia in 62 tests and two one-day internationals between 1957 and 1978. Simpson scored 4,869 test runs, including 10 centuries and 27 half-centuries, and took 71 wickets, while captaining Australia in 39 tests. Born in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Marrickville, the third son of immigrant parents from Scotland, Simpson was just 16 when he made his first-class debut for New South Wales state against Victoria. 'I was a naturally ambitious person anyway and never had any doubts I could go further,' Simpson said. 'It sounds cocky but I always believed in my own talents.' He coached Australia from 1986 to 1996 and under his firm and steady guidance, Australia won the 1987 World Cup, four Ashes campaigns and in 1995 the Frank Worrell Trophy, ending a 17-year drought against the West Indies. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. On Saturday night, the Australian team paid tribute to Simpson with a moment's silence before its Twenty20 match against South Africa at Cairns in northern Australia. The Australians wore black armbands, as well. Simpson made his test debut against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1957, and his first century came in an Ashes test at Old Trafford in Manchester in 1964, when Simpson went on to score 311. He is one of only seven Australians to make a triple-century. He was also one of the greatest slip-fielders, taking 110 catches. Honoured by prime minister Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among the first to pay tribute to Simpson. 'Bob Simpson's extraordinary service to Australian cricket spanned generations. As a player, captain and then era-defining coach, he set the highest standards for himself and the champions he led,' Albanese wrote on X. 'He will be long remembered by the game he loved. May he rest in peace.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Simpson was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2013. 'As a brilliant opening batter, incredible slips fielder and handy spin bowler, Bob was a mainstay of a very strong Australian team in the 1960s, and he became a leader across the game as Australian and New South Wales captain and as a coach,' Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird said in a statement. '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.' Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis.
National Post
2 days ago
- National Post
Former Australian cricketer, captain and coach Bob Simpson dies at age 89
SYDNEY (AP) — Bob Simpson, a former player, captain and coach and one of the most influential figures in Australian cricket, has died at the age of 89. Article content Cricket Australia on Saturday confirmed the death of Simpson, who represented Australia in 62 tests and two one-day internationals between 1957 and 1978. Article content Article content Simpson scored 4,869 test runs, including 10 centuries and 27 half-centuries, and took 71 wickets, while captaining Australia in 39 tests. Article content Born in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Marrickville, the third son of immigrant parents from Scotland, Simpson was just 16 when he made his first-class debut for New South Wales state against Victoria. Article content 'I was a naturally ambitious person anyway and never had any doubts I could go further,' Simpson said. 'It sounds cocky but I always believed in my own talents.' Article content He coached Australia from 1986 to 1996 and under his firm and steady guidance, Australia won the 1987 World Cup, four Ashes campaigns and in 1995 the Frank Worrell Trophy, ending a 17-year drought against the West Indies. Article content On Saturday night, the Australian team paid tribute to Simpson with a moment's silence before its Twenty20 match against South Africa at Cairns in northern Australia. The Australians wore black armbands, as well. Article content Simpson made his test debut against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1957, and his first century came in an Ashes test at Old Trafford in Manchester in 1964, when Simpson went on to score 311. He is one of only seven Australians to make a triple-century. Article content Article content He was also one of the greatest slip-fielders, taking 110 catches. Article content Honoured by prime minister Article content Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among the first to pay tribute to Simpson. Article content 'Bob Simpson's extraordinary service to Australian cricket spanned generations. As a player, captain and then era-defining coach, he set the highest standards for himself and the champions he led,' Albanese wrote on X. 'He will be long remembered by the game he loved. May he rest in peace.' Article content Simpson was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2013. Article content 'As a brilliant opening batter, incredible slips fielder and handy spin bowler, Bob was a mainstay of a very strong Australian team in the 1960s, and he became a leader across the game as Australian and New South Wales captain and as a coach,' Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird said in a statement. Article content
