Bob Simpson, who died aged 89, was one of the most accomplished Australian cricketers of all time: a superb batsman, a dangerous leg-break bowler, an unequalled slip fielder, a tough captain and a successful coach.

Bob Simpson, the former Test captain and coach credited for birthing Australia's modern-day golden era, has died aged 89 in Sydney. A pivotal figure in the dressing room during Australia's rise to the peak of world cricket throughout the 1990s, Simpson's legacy lasted long after he stepped away from the head coach role in 1996.

Simpson was responsible for guiding the early careers of players who would go on to become Australian cricketing legends, from Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne as bowlers, to Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer as batters, while getting the most out of the likes of Allan Border and Steve Waugh as leaders.