Players of Australia National Cricket Team have wore black armbands in the ongoing third and final T20I match of the series against the South Africa National cricket team.
The series between Mitchell Marsh -led Australia and Aiden Markram -led South Africa is currently concluding on Saturday at Cazaly’s stadium in CAIRNS on 16 August.
Australian player Bob Simpson wearing black armband
In the third T20i, the Australian players moved to the middle of the black armbands, and now the reason behind their move is revealed.
cricketballgame.com
The Australian team, led by Mitchell Marsh, is wearing a black armband in memory of former all -rounder Bob Simpson, who died on Saturday at the age of 89.
It was a tribute to Bob Simpson, who played 62 Tests for the Australian national cricket team and led the side in 39 of those games.
He is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of Australian cricket and is one of the best all -rounders to emerge from the country. Simpson also played two ODIs in his career and scored 36 runs with two scale in his name.
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Watch: South Africa and Australian players inspect a moment of silence in Cairns for Bob Simpson
A moment of silence in Cairns for Bob Simpson#AUSVSA pic.twitter.com/cboit2w1rp
– Cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 16, 2025
Bob Simpson was one of the great – Mike Baird
In an official statement, Cricket Australia President Mike Baird labeled Bob Simpson as one of the all-time Great and highlighted his amazing task of successfully coming out of retirement to lead the Australians.
Cricket Australia Chairman Mike Baird said, “Bob Simpson was one of the great people of Australian cricket and it is a lucky day for someone that he has seen him playing or who has benefited from his intellect.”
“Bob’s decision to successfully lead the Australian team to lead the Australian team during the World Series Cricket Advent in 1977 was a wonderful service to the game, and his coaching set the foundation of a golden age for Australian cricket.”
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanis said that Simpson made extraordinary contribution in Australian cricket as both a player and coach.
Anthony Albani wrote on social media, “Bob Simpson’s extraordinary service for Australian cricket spread generations.”
“As a player, Captain and then Era-Defining Coach, he set the highest standards for the leadership of his and the champion. He would long be remembered by the game he loved.”
In particular, Bob Simpson was appointed as Australia’s first full -time coach in the 1980s, and many legends of the game, including Shane Warne, considered him the best coach he had ever done.
He also granted coaching to Lessesterreshire and Lancashire in county cricket, worked in an advisory role for Rajasthan in the Ranji Trophy, and as an advisor for the Indian team in the late 1990s.
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