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Former Australia captain and coach Bob Simpson dies at 89

Former Australia captain and coach Bob Simpson dies at 89

India Todaya day ago
Former Australia captain Bob Simpson passed away on Saturday, August 16 at the age of 89. Simpson was an influential figure in Australian cricket and featured in 62 Tests for the Aussies before becoming their first full-time coach and helped with the re-emergence of the side during the late 1980s and 1990s.advertisementWhen did Bob Simpson make his debut for the Australian cricket team?Simpson made his debut in 1957 against South Africa and went on to score 4869 runs at an average of 46.81, which included 10 hundreds and 27 fifties. The former Aussie skipper came in as an all-rounder in the side and quickly established himself as an opening batter for Australia through the 1960s.Simpson was also a handy spinner, who picked up 71 wickets during his time in Tests and was also extremely reliable in slips. He would step away from the game in 1968 before making a sensational return in 1978 at the age of 41 to lead Australia again as many players had gone to take part in World Series cricket.
'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," said Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird.'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.'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.'On behalf of Cricket Australia, I would like to express my warmest condolences to Bob's family, friends, teammates and all those touched by his vast contribution to cricket.'Simpson worked as a consultant for India during the 1999 World Cup in England and inducted into the ICC Hall Of Fame in 2013.- Ends
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