Bob Simpson, one of the most remarkable players in Australian cricket, died at the age of 89. A former captain and coach, Simpson represented Australia in 62 Tests and two one-day internationals from 1957 to 1978.

Confirming the death, Cricket Australia said on Saturday that the Australian team would pay tribute to Simpson with a moment’s silence before Saturday night’s one-day international against South Africa at Cairns. They would also wear black armbands during the match.

Simpson scored 4,869 Test runs, scoring 10 centuries and 27 half-centuries. He captained Australia in 39 Tests and also took 71 wickets. Simpson was just 16 when he made his first-class debut for New South Wales state against Victoria.

He coached Australia from 1986 to 1996 and, under his guidance, Australia won the 1987 World Cup, four Ashes campaigns and the Frank Worrell Trophy in 1995, ending a 17-year drought against the West Indies.

Inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2013, Simpson made his Test debut against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1957, and his first century came in an Ashes Test at Old Trafford in 1964 when he went on to score 311. He is one of seven Australians to score a triple-century. One of the greatest slip-fielders, Simpson took 110 catches.

Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among the first ones to pay tribute to Simpson. “Bob Simpson’s extraordinary service to Australian cricket spanned generations. As a player, captain and then era-defining coach, he set the highest standards for himself and the champions he led. He will be long remembered by the game he loved. May he rest in peace,” Albanese posted on X.

“As a brilliant opening batter, incredible slip fielder and handy spin bowler, Bob was a mainstay of a very strong Australian team in the 1960s, and he became a leader across the game as Australian and New South Wales captain and as a coach,” Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird said in a statement.

“Bob’s decision to come out of retirement to successfully lead the Australian team during the advent of World Series cricket in 1977 was a wonderful service to the game, and his coaching set the foundation for a golden era for Australian cricket,” said Baird.