Simpson, , who played a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s modern cricketing dominance, played 62 Tests for Australia from 1957 until 1978, scoring 4,869 runs with 10 hundreds and claiming 71 wickets with his leg spin.

A great slip fielder considered one of the best in cricketing history, he first retired in 1968 before coming out of retirement in 1977 to become Test captain at 41, after a number of major players had defected to World Series Cricket.

Cricket Australia Chair Mike Baird welcomed him as "one of the greats of Australian cricket,"terming his all-round talent as an opening batsman, slips fielder, bowler, and captain.

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Simpson s comeback as captain during the volatile World Series Cricket period was referred to as a "wonderful service to the game," and his subsequent job as a coach set the platform for Australia s golden era under Allan Border. Under Simpson, the team defeated the 1987 World Cup and regained the Ashes and the Frank Worrell Trophy.

Spin legend Shane Warne considered Simpson the best coach he ever had, attributing his career to him. In addition to Australia, Simpson coached Lancashire, the Netherlands, and served as a consultant with India during the late 1990s.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute, stating Simpson s remarkable contributions: "As a player, captain,and period-defining coach, he established the very best standards for himself and those he captained. He will be cherished as a titan of the game that he loved."