- Messages
- 71,808
‘A mighty figure’: Aussie cricket in mourning after tragic passing of icon Bob Simpson
‘A mighty figure’: Aussie cricket in mourning after tragic passing of icon Bob Simpson

Former Australian captain and coach Bob Simpson has passed away aged 89, Cricket Australia has confirmed.
Simpson, one of Australian cricket’s most influential figures, represented his country in 62 Tests between 1957 and 1978, scoring 4869 runs at 46.81 while taking 71 wickets. He captained Australia in 39 Tests, winning 12.
The New South Welshman famously came out of retirement aged 41 to lead an undermanned Australian team during the World Series Cricket era.
Simpson later became the Australian cricket team’s first full-time coach, helping rebuild a struggling side that failed to win a Test series for four years into one of the sport’s powerhouses.
Under his guidance, Australia won the 1987 World Cup, four Ashes campaigns and the 1995 the Frank Worrell Trophy, ending a 17-year drought against the West Indies.
He stepped down as Australian coach following the 1996 World Cup, also serving as a national selector.
Simpson was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame in 2006.
He was added to the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2013.