Australian cricket legends pay tribute to Bob Simpson as a “giant” of the game

A score of Australia’s greatest cricketers have paid tribute to Bob Simpson, after the giant of Australia sport died in Sydney aged 89.

Simpson was responsible for guiding the early careers of players who would go on to become Australian cricketing legends, from Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne as bowlers, to Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer as batters, while getting the most out of the likes of Allan Border and Steve Waugh as leaders.

A hard taskmaster with an unmatched cricket brain, Simpson shaped Australia back into a world power on the cricket pitch after becoming head coach in 1986 of the underperforming Aussie team, pushing his team hard on the merits of being skilled fielders.

“He basically maintained that if you become a really, really solid and high-quality fielding team, even if you have not got the best cricket team, you can stay in the contest for longer, if the other side is better than you,” Border, who was skipper of the team at the time, said.

“You can win games just on fielding alone.”

Simpson had been brought as support for Border, after Australia’s cricket board had acknowledged captain Kim Hughes had not been provided enough support during a time when the game was changing dramatically.

“It was perfect timing for me personally as the captain,” Border told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“I was all things to the team for a year or two — maybe not in my character to be like that. He was the sergeant major — a disciplinarian. He worked our backsides off and it paid dividends.”

Australia went on to win the 1987 World Cup, before Simpson guided the new generation of rising stars.

Hayden, who became one of Australia’s greatest openers along with Langer after both debuted under Simpson, said a “giant” of the game was gone.

“One of Australian cricket’s true giants has left us,” Hayden said

“A master batsman, inspirational leader, coach and mentor — his legacy shaped generations of cricketers and the spirit of our great game. 

“From the crease to the dressing room, Simmo’s wisdom, grit and love for cricket left and indelible mark. He not only lifted Australia back to greatness but also nurtured countless players who carried his lessons on to the world stage.”

Hayden said Simpson had taught him the art of playing the sweep shot against spin bowling, while also taking his fielding to another level. 

“Thankfully, I was one of them who learned the art of playing the sweep shot as a weapon against spin bowling,” Hayden said.

“His legendary fielding sessions, be that close to the bat or in the slips or outfield, took my love of fielding to undiscovered levels. 

“Today, we say goodbye to a legend, but his influence will live forever in the story of Australian cricket.”

Steve Waugh, who flourished under Simpson before eventually taking over the captaincy from Mark Taylor, said nobody had made a greater contribution to Australian cricket.

“No one gave more to Australian cricket than Bob Simpson — coach, player, commentator, writer, selector, mentor and journalist,” Waugh said.

“He was quite simply the best cricket coach with an unparalleled knowledge of the game together with an insatiable appetite for learning and imparting his wisdom.

“He made me a better player and he made Australian cricket great.”

Simpson was born in the Sydney suburb of Marrickville on February 3, 1936, the third son of immigrant parents from Scotland whose belief in physical and mental toughness rubbed off on young Bobby.

“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 was still only 16 when he made his debut for New South Wales against Victoria in the 1952/53 season.

It took a move to Western Australia though to get enough cricket to nudge the selectors. Once on the boat to South Africa he was to become a fixture in the side although it was not until he was paired with Bill Lawry at the top of the order in 1961 that he really made his presence felt.

Over a seven-year period they averaged over 60 for the first wicket and posted nine century partnerships, including a monumental 382 against the West Indies in Bridgetown in 1965.

It was the first time that two openers had both scored double-centuries in the same Test and remains a record for Australia’s first wicket.

He took over the captaincy from Richie Benaud during the 1964/65 home series against South Africa but retired three years later to find a find a more secure living, initially as a journalist and then in public relations.

When World Series Cricket split the game in 1977, causing most of Australia’s leading players to be barred from the national team, Simpson came out of retirement to captain both NSW and Australia.

ABC/AFP