Revealed: Why are Australia players wearing black armbands in 3rd T20I against South Africa?
Published - 16 Aug 2025, 04:25 PM | Updated - 16 Aug 2025, 04:28 PM

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Australia National Cricket Team players are wearing black armbands in the ongoing third and final T20I match of the series against the South Africa National Cricket Team.
The series finale between Mitchell Marsh-led Australia and Aiden Markram-led South Africa is currently underway at Cazaly's Stadium in Cairns on Saturday, August 16.
Australian players wearing black armbands in remembrance of Bob Simpson
In the third T20I, Australian players walked into the middle donning black armbands, and now the reason behind their move has been revealed.
The Australian team, led by Mitchell Marsh, are wearing black armbands in remembrance of former all-rounder Bob Simpson, who passed away 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 regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of Australian cricket and one of the best all-rounders to emerge from the country. Simpson also played two ODI matches in his career and scored 36 runs with two scalps in his name.
Watch: South Africa and Australia players observe 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 greats - Mike Baird
In an official statement, Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird labelled Bob Simpson as one of the all-time greats and highlighted his wonderful act of coming out of retirement to successfully lead the Aussies.
"Bob Simpson was one of the greats of Australian cricket and this is a sad day for anyone fortunate to have watched him play or who benefited from his wisdom," Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird said.
"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."
Meanwhile, Aussie Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that Simpson made extraordinary contributions to Australian cricket both as a player and a coach.
"Bob Simpson's extraordinary service to Australian cricket spanned generations," Anthony Albanese wrote on social media.
"As a player, captain and then era-defining coach, he set the highest of standards for himself and the champions he led. He will be long remembered by the game he loved."
Notably, Bob Simpson was appointed as the first full-time coach of Australia in the 1980s, and several legends of the game, including Shane Warne, regarded him as the best coach they ever had.
He also coached Leicestershire and Lancashire in county cricket, worked in an advisory role for Rajasthan in the Ranji Trophy, and as a consultant for the Indian team during the late 1990s.
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Australia National Cricket Team Bob Simpson South Africa National Cricket Team Australia vs South Africa AUS vs SAAbout the Author

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