Bob Simpson (Cricketer)
Source: [1], 19 July 2005 |
Robert ("Bob") Baddeley Simpson (born February 3 1936 in Sydney, Australia) is a cricketer who played first-class cricket for New South Wales and Western Australia as well as Test cricket for Australia. He also had a highly successful term as the coach of the Australian cricket team. He is also known as Bobbie or Simmo.
He played as a class all-rounder - right handed batsman and spin bowler.
It wasn't until his 30th Test at Old Trafford, after which he'd ascended to the captaincy, that he made his first century and posted his career best score of 311.
After a break of some years, he returned to the spotlight at age 41 to captain Australia during the era of World Series Cricket. His test debut was against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1957/58. His Test batting statistics were: 62 matches, 111 Innings, 4869 runs, average 46.81, high score of 311. His Test bowling statistics were: 6881 balls, 253 maidens, 3001 runs, 71 wickets, average 42.26, best bowling 5/57.
In 1984 he was appointed coach of the Australian team, a position he held until being replaced by Geoff Marsh in July 1996. Under Simpsons' tutelage, the team went from a struggling team, losing a succession of test series, to the strongest team in world cricket. Some of the team's greatest achievements in his time as coach were winning the 1987 World Cup, regaining The Ashes in England in 1989, and overcoming the previously dominant West Indies on their home grounds in 1995.
He also coached county cricket in England, with Leicestershire and Lancashire.
He was Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1965.