Bob Simpson (cricketer) facts for kids
Simpson in 1957
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| Full name |
Robert Baddeley Simpson
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| Born | 3 February 1936 Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Nickname | Simmo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 179 cm (5 ft 10 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm leg spin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Batsman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| National side |
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| Test debut (cap 209) | 23 December 1957 v South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 3 May 1978 v West Indies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI debut (cap 44) | 22 February 1978 v West Indies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 12 April 1978 v West Indies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1952/53–1955/56 | New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1956/57–1960/61 | Western Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1961/62–1977/78 | New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Source: CricketArchive, 14 April 2008
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Robert Baddeley Simpson (born 3 February 1936), known as Bobby or Simmo, is a famous former cricketer. He played for New South Wales, Western Australia, and the Australian national team. He was the captain of the Australian team from 1963 to 1968 and again in 1977–78. After his playing career, he became a very successful coach for the national team.
Simpson was an amazing fielder and a top right-handed batsman. He also bowled leg spin sometimes. He was known for catching many balls in games. After being retired for ten years, he came back to play at age 41. He even captained Australia during the time of World Series Cricket, a special cricket competition.
In 1986, he became the coach of the Australian team. He held this job until 1996. Under his guidance, the team changed from struggling to becoming the strongest in the world. Some of their biggest wins as he coached were:
- Winning the 1987 Cricket World Cup
- Winning back The Ashes in England in 1989
- Beating the strong West Indies team in their home country in 1995
He also coached cricket teams in England, like Leicestershire and Lancashire.
Contents
Bob Simpson's Early Life
Simpson was born in Marrickville, Sydney. His parents were from Scotland. His father played soccer in Scotland. Other family members also played soccer, including an England international player. Bob was encouraged by his two older brothers, who played cricket in Sydney.
He started playing cricket as a fast bowler and batsman. He showed leadership skills early on, captaining his school teams. He was even captaining 14-year-olds when he was only 12.
Simpson was also good at golf, baseball, and soccer. He was known for being very confident and determined. At 12, he was chosen to play for New South Wales in an Under-14 competition. He changed to leg spin bowling at 13. A week after turning 15, he was playing for a top team in Sydney's club cricket.
Simpson first played in the slips fielding position as a substitute player. This was unusual, but he took two great catches. This helped him earn his spot in that important fielding area.
Starting First-Class Cricket
Simpson was almost 17 when he played his first first-class cricket match for New South Wales in 1952–53. He had only played 12 club matches before this. He was the second youngest player to play for New South Wales. He scored 44 runs without being out in his first game. He also took his first wicket in this match.
In his next game, he scored 69 runs. The 1953–54 season was only for local teams. New South Wales was very strong, so it was hard for Simpson to get into the team often. He played four matches and scored 147 runs at an average of 36.75. He did better with his bowling, taking 14 wickets. In one match, he took 5 wickets for 37 runs.
In the 1954–55 season, Simpson played more because many top players were playing for Australia. He scored his first century, 104 runs, against Victoria. This helped his team win. Later, he scored 98 runs against the touring English team. He almost got a century, but he was stumped out. He ended the season with 331 runs.
At the start of the 1955–56 season, Simpson was hit in the nose by a bouncer (a fast, short ball). He needed two operations but only missed one game. He scored 406 runs that season but didn't get any big scores. He was not chosen for the Australian team to tour England, which surprised some people.
To get more chances to play, Simpson moved to Western Australia in 1956. He also changed his job from accounting to journalism.
Early International Career
After some top players retired, there were more spots on the Australian team. Simpson started playing well for Western Australia, scoring 103, 97, 96, and 112 not out in different matches. He was then chosen for an Australian team that toured New Zealand in 1956–57. He scored 263 runs in first-class matches.
In 1957–58, Simpson was selected for the Australian team that toured South Africa. Some people thought he was chosen mainly for his great catching. He scored 103 runs against Transvaal before the Test matches.
Simpson made his Test debut against South Africa in Johannesburg. He scored 60 runs and took three catches. He struggled with batting in the next four Tests, scoring only 53 more runs. However, his fielding was excellent, taking 13 catches in five Tests.
After this, Simpson worked on his batting technique. He needed to score more runs to keep his spot in the team for the Ashes series against England. He scored well for Western Australia but was not chosen for the First Test. He played in the Second Test but got out for a duck and was left out of the rest of the series.
In 1959, Simpson played in England for a club team. He scored 1,444 runs at an average of 103.14 and took 47 wickets. This was a very successful season for him.
He was not chosen for the Australian team that toured India and Pakistan. When he returned to Australia, he changed his batting position to opening batsman. This was to try and get a spot as a Test opener. He scored 236 not out and 230 not out in two matches for Western Australia. He ended the season with 902 runs at an amazing average of 300.66.
Becoming a Consistent Player
1960–61 Season
Simpson was called back to the Test team for the 1960–61 series against the West Indies. He opened the batting with Colin McDonald. He had a good series, scoring 449 runs.
In the First Test in Brisbane, which was the first Tied Test ever, Simpson scored 92 runs. He also took 3 wickets for 43 runs. Australia needed 233 runs to win, but Simpson got out for a duck. The game ended in a tie.
In the Fifth Test in Melbourne, Australia needed 258 runs to win the series. Simpson attacked the fast bowler Wes Hall right away. He hit four boundaries in the first over, scoring 18 runs. This fast start helped Australia win the match by two wickets and the series 2–1. Simpson scored 92 runs in that innings.
After this series, Simpson moved back to his home state of New South Wales.
1961 Tour of England
During the 1961 tour to England, Simpson started a famous opening partnership with Bill Lawry. Simpson scored 75 runs in the First Test. He also bowled a lot because the main bowler, Richie Benaud, was injured.
In the Fourth Test at Old Trafford, Simpson and Lawry opened the batting together for the first time in a Test. Simpson took 4 wickets for 23 runs in England's first innings. He then scored 51 runs in the second innings. Australia won the match and kept The Ashes.
Simpson's Test series was not his best, but he scored well in other matches. He also took his best bowling figures of 5 wickets for 33 runs against Glamorgan.
1962–63 Season
Simpson started the 1962–63 season very well. He scored a century in four games before the Tests against England. Three of these centuries were against the English team.
In the Third Test in Sydney, Simpson had a great all-round performance. He took his best Test bowling figures of 5 wickets for 57 runs. He then scored 91 runs. Australia won the match, which helped them keep the Ashes. He ended the series with 401 runs and 8 wickets.
Becoming Captain
In 1963–64, Simpson became the vice-captain of both New South Wales and Australia. The captain was Richie Benaud.
In his first game of the season, Simpson scored his highest first-class score: 359 runs against Queensland. He also scored 246 and 247 not out in other matches.
Benaud got injured, so Simpson captained New South Wales for the first time. A few days later, he led Australia for the first time in the Second Test against South Africa in Melbourne. Some people were surprised by his appointment because he hadn't scored a Test century yet. Simpson scored 55 not out as Australia won the match.
Benaud decided to retire, so he played under Simpson for a while to help Simpson gain experience. The series ended 1–1. Simpson scored 361 runs in the series. He and Lawry often gave Australia good starts as opening batsmen.
1964 Tour of England
Simpson had not scored a Test century before the 1964 tour of England. He started the tour well, scoring many half-centuries and centuries in practice matches.
In the Fourth Test at Old Trafford, Australia needed a draw to keep the Ashes. Simpson won the toss and decided to bat for a very long time. He and Lawry had a 201-run opening partnership. Simpson then reached his first Test century. He said he felt "a bit silly" that it took so long.
Simpson kept batting and scored 311 runs. This was the longest innings by an Australian in first-class cricket. He became only the second Australian to score a triple century in England. He was also only the second player in cricket history to score a triple century as his first Test century. Australia declared at 8 wickets for 656 runs. The match ended in a draw, and Australia kept the Ashes.
Simpson scored 458 runs in the five Tests. He also took his best bowling figures of 5 wickets for 33 runs during the tour.
After England, Australia toured India and Pakistan. Simpson continued to play well, scoring 292 runs in India. He also took 4 wickets for 45 runs in one Test. In Pakistan, Simpson scored 153 and 115 runs in a drawn Test. He became the third captain to score two centuries in the same Test. In 1964, he set a world record for the most Test runs scored in a calendar year (1,381 runs).
In 1964–65, Simpson led Australia on a tour of the Caribbean. He scored 201 runs in the Fourth Test in Barbados. He and Lawry set an Australian record opening partnership of 382 runs. He ended the series with 399 runs.
Later International Career
Simpson missed the First Test of the 1965–66 Ashes series due to a broken wrist. He returned for the Second Test and scored two half-centuries. He then missed the Third Test due to chickenpox.
When he returned for the Fourth Test in Adelaide, Simpson scored 225 runs. He and Lawry had a 244-run opening partnership, which was the highest for Australia against England in Australia. Australia won this match, leveling the series. A draw in the Fifth Test meant Australia kept the Ashes. Simpson had a great series, averaging 88.75 runs.
In 1966–67, Simpson's captaincy was criticized when Australia lost 1–3 in South Africa. Simpson scored 153 and 94 in two of the Tests.
During the 1967–68 series against India, Simpson played exceptionally well. He scored 55 and 103 in the First Test, and 109 and took 4 wickets for 49 runs in the Second Test. Australia won both matches. Simpson decided to retire at the end of the season. He played his last international match in Sydney, under the captaincy of Lawry. He took his best Test match bowling figures of 3 wickets for 39 runs and 5 wickets for 99 runs. He also took five catches. In his final series, he scored 294 runs, took 13 wickets, and caught seven balls.
Retirement and Comeback
After retiring from Test cricket, Simpson worked in public relations. He helped cricketers earn money from promotions.
In 1977, a new cricket competition called World Series Cricket started. Many of Australia's best players joined it. So, at age 41, Simpson made a comeback to captain New South Wales and Australia. He had not played first-class cricket for ten years.
His first challenge was a five-Test series against India. Simpson quickly showed his skill, scoring 89, 176, and 39 runs in the first two Tests, which Australia won. India won the next two Tests. In the deciding Fifth Test, Simpson scored 100 and 51 runs, helping Australia win the series 3–2. He scored 539 runs in total.
He then led Australia on a tour of the West Indies, who were the strongest team in the world. He scored one half-century, 67 runs, in the Third Test, which Australia won. Australia lost the series 3–1. Simpson wanted to keep playing, but the Australian Cricket Board chose Graham Yallop as the new captain. During his comeback, he scored his 60th first-class century and became the oldest Australian to score a Test century at home.
Simpson retired for good after this tour, at age 42. He had scored over 10,000 runs in Sydney club cricket.
How Bob Simpson Played
Simpson was known for his very correct batting technique. He was not very tall, but he could bat for a long time because he was very fit and focused. He had many different shots, especially off his back foot. He and Bill Lawry formed one of the best opening partnerships in Test history. They were very fast between the wickets and understood each other well.
As a bowler, Simpson mainly bowled leg-breaks. He was often used as an occasional leg spin bowler in Tests, taking five wickets in an innings twice. He took 349 wickets in his first-class career.
Simpson was also an excellent slips fielder. He was considered the best of his time. He took 110 catches in Tests, which was a world record. His rate of 0.94 catches per innings is still the highest for any non-wicket-keeper fielder.
As Australia's captain, Simpson was known for being very disciplined. He believed in hard work and that the team's needs came before individual players. When he returned as coach, he made the team fitter and better at fielding. His methods sometimes caused arguments with players, but by the time he retired in 1996, Australia was the top Test team in the world.
Coaching Career
In 1986, Simpson became the coach of the Australian team. The team was young, not confident, and had been losing a lot. They had not won a series for two years.
The 1987 Cricket World Cup was a turning point. Australia was not expected to win, but they beat India by one run in their first match. They won five of their six group matches. They then won the semifinal and the final, becoming World Cup champions. This success helped the Test team too. In 1987–88, Australia won its first Test series in four years against New Zealand.
In 1989, Simpson guided Australia to win back the Ashes in England with a 4–0 victory. This series also saw Mark Taylor become a key player; he later became captain under Simpson.
The Australian team continued to improve under Simpson. They won the Ashes again in 1990–91. In 1991, they toured the West Indies, who were still very strong. Australia lost 2–1, which was a much better result than before.
In 1992–93, the West Indies toured Australia. Simpson's team lost a close match by one run. They then lost the series. In 1993, Australia won the Ashes in England again, 4–1.
After the 1993–94 season, Allan Border retired as captain. New players like Mark Waugh, Shane Warne, Michael Slater, and Glenn McGrath joined the team. These players became the core of Australia's success. Warne brought back leg spin bowling, and McGrath became a top fast bowler.
In 1995, Australia finally beat the West Indies in the Caribbean, winning the series 2–1. This made them the leading Test team in the world. After the win, Mark Taylor gave the winning cricket ball to Simpson, who was recovering from a blood clot in his leg.
Simpson's last coaching job for Australia was at the 1996 Cricket World Cup. Australia reached the final but lost to Sri Lanka.
Coaching Impact
Simpson took over an Australian team that had not won a series in three years. It was a team that lacked direction and had many changes in players. Within a year, Australia won the World Cup. The Test results also steadily improved. Simpson, along with captain Allan Border, helped turn Australia into one of the strongest teams in international cricket by the 1990s. When they beat the West Indies in 1995, Australia was seen as the top Test team in the world.
The group of players that Simpson helped develop continued Australia's success. Under Mark Taylor and later Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, Australia became the most dominant cricket nation for many years after Simpson retired.
Later Coaching Work
Simpson also coached Lancashire and Leicestershire in England. He later worked as a cricket advisor in India.
In the early 2000s, Simpson was part of a committee that looked at illegal bowling actions in cricket. He believed that officials were not strict enough with high-profile bowlers who had questionable actions.
Simpson was a traditional coach who focused on the basics of batting, bowling, and fielding. He has criticized modern coaching methods that rely too much on computers and science. He also coached the Netherlands national cricket team, helping them qualify for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.
Awards and Recognition
- Simpson was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1965.
- He was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985.
- He joined the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame in 2006.
- He was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2013.
He received the Order of Australia award in 1978 and was upgraded to Officer of the Order in 2007. He also received the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and the Centenary Medal in 2001.
See also
In Spanish: Bob Simpson para niños
