Debbie Hockley and Bob Simpson were today inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame* in a special function that was held in Sydney.
Debbie Hockley and Bob Simpson with Alan Isaac during the 2013 ICC Cricket Hall of Fame Inductions at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 2, 2014 in Sydney, Australia.
The duo received their commemorative cap from ICC President Alan Isaac in an event that was also attended by Cricket Australia Chairman and ICC Director Mr Wally Edwards, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chairman and ICC Director Mr Giles Clarke, and a number of living ICC Hall of Famers.
Hockley is the fourth female and Simpson the 72nd male cricketer to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame*.
Hockley, born on 7 November 1962 in Christchurch, made her international debut in January 1979 when she featured in the third Test against Australia in Melbourne. In December 2000, she announced her retirement after the final of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in Lincoln in which New Zealand beat Australia by four runs.
In a career spanning 22 years, Hockley played 19 Tests in which she scored 1,301 runs with four centuries and seven half-centuries, and 118 ODIs in which she mustered 4,064 runs with four centuries and 34 half-centuries. With her inswing bowling, she took five Test and 20 ODI wickets.
After her induction, a jubilant Hockley said: “To be only the second New Zealander to enter the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame is something I’m very proud of. It is truly a thrill to be thought worthy of joining the outstanding cricketers in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
“I have so many happy memories of the togetherness of teammates, matches played and countries that I travelled – all a result of this wonderful game of cricket.
“Tonight’s Induction is another of those very special occasions that I will remember always.”
Simpson, born on 3 February 1936 in Marrickville, Sydney, played 62 Tests and two ODIs for Australia from 1957 to 1978. His 4,869 Test runs include 10 centuries and 27 half-centuries, with his highest score of 311 coming against England in the fourth Ashes Test of the 1964 series at Old Trafford, Manchester.
With his leg-spin bowling, Simpson captured 71 wickets, including a career-best five for 57 against England in the 1963-64 Ashes in Sydney. In 1965, Simpson was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year.
Simpson retired in January 1968 after the Sydney Test against India, but returned at the age of 41 in December 1977 to lead Australia in the home series against India and the away series against the West Indies. While Australia beat India 3-2, it lost 3-1 to the West Indies, with Simpson’s final Test at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica, ending in a draw.
Overall, Simpson captained Australia in 39 Tests, winning 12 and losing 12.
In 1985-86, Simpson was appointed as Australia coach and when he handed over the baton to Geoff Marsh after the ICC Cricket World Cup 1996, Australia was back as a force to be reckoned with.
During Simpson’s tenure, Australia won the ICC Cricket World Cup 1987 and reached the final of the 1996 tournament (both held in the subcontinent), won four consecutive Ashes (1989, 1990-91, 1993, 1994-95) and ended the West Indies’ 15-year unbeaten run in Test cricket in 1995, in its own backyard.
Simpson served as an ICC Match Referee in the three-Test series between India and Sri Lanka in India in 1997, and then worked as India’s consultant coach in 1998-99. That also included his involvement with the side during the ICC Cricket World Cup 1999.
An excited Simpson said: “It is a huge honour for me to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. Ever since I heard the news, I had been looking forward to this day with great excitement.
“I would like to thank all the living members of the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame and the voting academy, for voting for me to join them. Being in the august company of some of the greatest names in cricket fills me with great pride and joy.
“To join some of my former mates and some outstanding Australian cricketers from my Test-playing days in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame – the likes of Richie Benaud, the Chappell brothers Ian and Greg, Alan Davidson, Neil Harvey, Dennis Lillee, Ray Lindwall and Rod Marsh; as well as those Hall of Fame members that I’ve coached – Allan Border, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Steve Waugh – is also quite special.”
*ICC Cricket Hall of Fame – initial inductees (55)
Sydney Barnes, Bishan Bedi, Alec Bedser, Richie Benaud, Allan Border, Ian Botham, Geoffrey Boycott, Donald Bradman, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Denis Compton, Colin Cowdrey, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Lance Gibbs, Graham Gooch, David Gower, WG Grace, Tom Graveney, Gordon Greenidge, Richard Hadlee, Walter Hammond, Neil Harvey, George Headley, Jack Hobbs, Michael Holding, Leonard Hutton, Rohan Kanhai, Imran Khan, Alan Knott, Jim Laker, Harold Larwood, Dennis Lillee, Ray Lindwall, Clive Lloyd, Hanif Mohammad, Rodney Marsh, Malcolm Marshall, Peter May, Javed Miandad, Keith Miller, Bill O’Reilly, Graeme Pollock, Wilfred Rhodes, Barry Richards, Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts, Garfield Sobers, Brian Statham, Fred Trueman, Derek Underwood, Clyde Walcott, Everton Weekes, Frank Woolley, Frank Worrell
2009-10 Inductees
Herbert Sutcliffe, Steve Waugh, Wasim Akram, Victor Trumper, Clarrie Grimmett
2010-11 Inductees
Rachael Heyhoe-Flint, Ken Barrington, Courtney Walsh, Joel Garner
2011-12 Inductees
Belinda Clark, Frederick Spofforth, Curtly Ambrose, Alan Davidson
2012-13 Inductees
Enid Bakewell, Brian Lara, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne
2013-14 Inductees
Adam Gilchrist, Debbie Hockley, Bob Simpson and Waqar Younis
