Vale Bobby Simpson AO (1936-2025) 

Cricket legend Bobby Simpson, a former resident of Strathfield, died recently aged 89 years. Simpson’s funeral was held at St Anne’s Anglican Church in Strathfield, reflecting his connection to the Strathfield area. Among those honouring his memory were cricket greats Steve and Mark Waugh, David Boon, and Stuart MacGill; former Prime Minister John Howard and Cricket Australia chair and former NSW Premier Mike Baird also paid their respects. Musical tributes included Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ and Nat King Cole’s ‘Unforgettable’.

Simpson began his Test career in 1957-1958 season, against South Africa. He played 62 Tests, at an average of 46.81, and captained Australia in 39 of them. He scored 4869 runs, including ten centuries, and took 71 wickets and 111 catches. His highest Test score was 311, against England at Manchester in 1964. After retiring at the end of the 1967-1968 series against India, he made a comeback and took over the reins in 1977 after many of the top players joined World Series Cricket. He captained the Australians to a 3-2 series win over India in 1977/78 and to a series against the West Indies, which they lost 3-1.

In all, he amassed 21,029 runs at an average of 56.22 in first-class cricket, hit 60 centuries, took 349 wickets at an average of 38.07, and took 384 catches. Taking on the position of full-time coach to the Australian side in the mid-1980s, he worked with captain Allan Border AO to win the 1987 World Cup and the 1995 Frank Worrell Trophy, as well as the ultimate triumph – regaining the Ashes in England in 1989. He also coached at English county level, spending time with both Leicestershire and Lancashire.

References

Bob Simpson AO, Sport Australia Hall of Fame, https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame-member/bob-simpson

Henry, Thomas (2025, August 28), Stuart MacGill joins cricket legends at Bob Simpson funeral service, https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/stuart-macgill-joins-cricket-legends-at-bob-simpson-funeral-service/news-story/f7760fb3582d87568ee1ee30029edd2d