Cricket Australia Pay Tribute - (Source: @ScreenGrab/X.com)
On Saturday, August 16, Australia locked horns against South Africa for the 3rd T20I at the Cazalys Stadium. The hosts won the toss and opted to field first in the series decider.
Cricket Australia Pay Tribute To Bob Simpson
Ahead of the start of the match, both teams paid tribute to the late Bob Simpson, who breathed his last in the early hours of August 16 at the age of 89. The players stood in line, while the crowd rose to their feet and stood in silence for a minute, paying their homage to the lost soul.
The entire place remembered the heroics of the former player turned coach for Australia cricket and paid a tribute to his achievements.
Who Was Bob Simpson?
Bob Simpson will go down in Australia's history in golden letters as an ICC Hall of Famer who served his nation for 21 years from 1957 to 1978. Notably, Simpson had taken an early retirement, but returned to captain Australia at the age of 41 in 1977.
In his playing career, Simpson scored 4800 Test runs, which included Test centuries. However, he found more success as a coach.
Notably, he joined Australia as their head coach in 1986. He turned the Australian playing style as the Men in Yellow used to struggle before his tenure, but Bob Simpson helped Australia win their first World Cup in the 1987 World Cup, regaining The Ashes in England in 1989, and defeating West Indies away from home in 1995. He also coached county cricket in England, with Leicestershire and Lancashire.
It was in 2013 when the ICC decided to give the Hall of Fame honour to the late Bob Simpson.
