Bob Simpson, Former Australia Cricket Captain And Coach, Dies Aged 89

Bob Simpson, erstwhile Australian cricket skipper and coach, has died astatine nan property of 89.

Simpson was an influential fig successful Australian cricket for much than 4 decades arsenic a player, captain, coach and commentator, aft making his Test debut successful South Africa successful 1957.

He played 62 Tests and captained Australia crossed 2 stints, nan 2nd aft coming retired of status astatine nan property of 41 to lead nan broadside during nan World Series Cricket era.

Simpson later became nan nation’s first full-time coach and helped guideline nan side’s reemergence successful nan 1980s and into 1 of nan cricket powerhouses during nan pursuing decade.

Alongside captains Allan Border and Mark Taylor, Simpson was astatine nan helm arsenic Australia won nan 1987 World Cup, regained nan Ashes successful England successful 1989, and defeated nan West Indies distant from location successful 1995.

Simpson first toured pinch Australia arsenic a leg-spinning all-rounder but yet recovered his spot astatine nan apical of nan batting bid arsenic he turned into an opener.

He took until his 30th Test to compile a first century, erstwhile he was already Australia captain, but made nan astir of his first ton arsenic he reached 311 against England astatine Old Trafford.

Simpson vanished pinch 10 Test hundreds of years among 4,869 runs astatine an mean of 46.81, and continued to beryllium a tin if underused leg-spinner who claimed 71 wickets astatine an mean of 42.26.

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