A key figure in Australian cricket for more than four decades, as cricketer, captain, coach and commentator, Bob Simpson first toured with Australia in 1957-58 as an all-rounder, bowling leg breaks and fielding infallibly at slip. He subsequently became a first-rate opening batsman. With the advent of World Series Cricket in April 1977, Simmo emerged from retirement at 41 to lead Australia again. When Australia went looking for a fulltime coach in the mid-1980s, he was again the Board' s choice. He held the job for a controversial but successful decade, during which time the team won the World Cup and regained both the Ashes and the Frank Worrell Trophy. He also had stints in county cricket, coaching Leicestershire and Lancashire.
