Bob Simpson, former Australian cricket captain and coach, died at the age of 89.
Simpson was an influential figure in Australian cricket for more than four decades as a player, captain, coach and commentator, after his test debut in South Africa in 1957.
He played 62 tests and captain Australia over two stints, the second after he came out of retirement at the age of 41 to lead the side during the Cricket era of the World Series.
Simpson later became the first full-time coach of the nation and helped with the revival of the party in the 1980s and in one of the cricket power patients in the following decade.
In addition to Captain Allan Border and Mark Taylor, Simpson was at the helm when Australia won the World Cup 1987, recovered the Ashes in England and in 1995 defeated the West -India, India.
Simpson toured with Australia for the first time as a leg-spinning all-rounder, but eventually found his place at the top of the barrier when he turned into an opener.
He took until his 30th test to put together a first century, when he was already a captain of Australia, but got the most out of his first ton when he reached 311 against England in Old Trafford.
Simpson ended with 10 test centuries under 4,869 runs on an average of 46.81 and remained a capable as under-utilized leg spinner who claimed 71 wickets on an average of 42.26.
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