Last Updated:August 16, 2025, 17:07 IST
Former cricketers Matthew Hayden and Steve Waugh paid tribute to Bob Simpson who passed away at 89.
Bob Simpson was Australia’s first full-time coach. (AFP Photo)
Steve Waugh and Matthew Hayden have paid tribute to former Australia captain and coach Bob Simpson, who passed away at the age of 89 in Sydney.
Simpson played a pivotal role in Australia’s rise to the top of the cricketing world in the 1990s. He assumed the full-time coaching role for the Baggy Greens when the Allan Border-led side was experiencing a significant decline. Australia was in the midst of a three-year winless streak.
Under Simpson’s guidance, Australia sought to rejuvenate its cricket by placing faith in young talent, debuting players like David Boon, Dean Jones, Steve Waugh, Craig McDermott, Merv Hughes, and many others. During his tenure with the selection panel in 1987, he was instrumental in identifying Australia’s golden generation.
Before stepping down in 1996, Simpson selected a host of players, including Mark Taylor, Ian Healy, Mark Waugh, Shane Warne, Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, and Ricky Ponting.
Hayden, one of the talents identified by Simpson, penned a heartfelt note highlighting the influence Simpson had in shaping the future of Australian cricket. While bidding farewell, Hayden revealed that Simpson taught him the art of executing the sweep shot against spinners.
“Vale Bob Simpson, one of Australian cricket’s true giants has left us. 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 an 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 wrote on Instagram.
“Thankfully, I was one of them who learned the art of playing the sweep shot as a weapon against spin bowling. His legendary fielding sessions, whether close to the bat, in the slips, or outfield, took my love of fielding to new levels. Today, we say goodbye to a legend, but his influence will live forever in the story of Australian cricket. Rest in peace, Bob Simpson AO,” he concluded.
Waugh, who was also one of Simpson’s discoveries, wrote an emotional message outlining the contributions of the former head coach and wrote on Instagram, “No one gave more to Australian cricket than Bob Simpson – coach, player, commentator, writer, selector, mentor, and journalist. He was quite simply the best cricket coach with 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. RIP Simmo.”
One of the biggest highlights of Simpson’s coaching career was winning the 1987 Cricket World Cup hosted by India and Pakistan, defeating arch-rivals England in a closely contested final by seven runs at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.
With ANI Inputs
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital…Read More
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital… Read More
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