Simpson to join ICC Hall of Fame

Australia Test legend Bob Simpson is set to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame at a special function to be held in Sydney on 2 January 2014.

Simpson will become the 72nd male and 20th from Australia (after Richie Benaud, Allan Border, Don Bradman, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Neil Harvey, Dennis Lillee, Ray Lindwall, Rodney Marsh, Keith Miller, Bill O’Reilly, Steve Waugh, Victor Trumper, Clarrie Grimmett, Frederick Spofforth, Alan Davidson, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist) to be inducted.

“It is a huge honour for me to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame,” Simpson said. “To be inducted in the elite group in Sydney, which I consider the headquarters of Australia cricket, and in front of the people I have known or who have seen me play or been associated with the game here, will make it perfect.

“I would like to thank all the living members of the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame and the voting academy, for considering me worthy of this honour.  The very prospect of being in the exalted company of some of the greatest achievers in cricket fills me with great pride and joy.”

Born on February 3, 1936 in Marrickville, Sydney, Simpson played 62 Tests and two ODIs for Australia from 1957 to 1978. His 4,869 Test runs include 10 centuries and 27 half-centuries, with his highest score of 311 coming against England in the fourth Ashes Test of the 1964 series at Old Trafford, Manchester.

With his leg-spin bowling, Simpson captured 71 wickets, including a career-best 5-57 against England in the 1963-64 Ashes in Sydney. In 1965, he was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year.

Simpson retired in January 1968 after the Sydney Test against India, but returned at the age of 41 in December 1977 to lead Australia in the home series against India and away series against the West Indies. While Australia beat India 3-2, they lost 3-1 to West Indies, with Simpson’s final Test at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica, ending in a draw.

Overall, the right-hander captained Australia in 39 Tests, winning 12 and losing 12.

In 1985-86, Simpson was appointed as Australia coach and when he handed over the baton to Geoff Marsh after the ICC Cricket World Cup 1996, Australia was back as a force to be reckoned with.

During Simpson’s tenure, Australia won the 1987 ICC Cricket World Cup and reached the final of the 1996 tournament (both held in the subcontinent), won four consecutive Ashes (1989, 1990-91, 1993, 1994-95) and ended the West Indies’ 15-year unbeaten run in Test cricket in 1995, in its own backyard.

Simpson served as an ICC Match Referee in the three-Test series between India and Sri Lanka in India in 1997, and then worked as India’s consultant coach in 1998-99 that also included his involvement with the side during the ICC Cricket World Cup 1999.

New Zealander Debbie Hockley will become the fourth female player after Belinda Clark (Australia), Enid Bakewell and Rachael Heyhoe-Flint (both England), and second cricketer from New Zealand after Richard Hadlee to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

“I am very proud that my contributions to New Zealand cricket in the time I played have been deemed worthy of this honour,” Hockley said. “I’m very much looking forward to the Induction ceremony in Sydney, and the fact that my parents have been invited to attend the function will make it even more special.”

In a career spanning 22 years, Hockley played 19 Tests in which she scored 1,301 runs with four centuries and seven half-centuries, and 118 ODIs in which she mustered 4,064 runs with four centuries and 34 half-centuries.