The news of Bob Simpson’s passing hits hard for anyone who’s been part of Australian cricket circles.

Bob wasn’t just another name in the game’s history — he was one of the true builders of Australian cricket.

When I look back at what he did in his era, I think of someone who carried the game forward at a time when the players weren’t professional in the way we think about it today.

Yet under his influence, they trained, played, and prepared like professionals. That was his gift. He didn’t just talk about standards — he lived them. He led, and the players around him followed.

I’ve always admired that quality in him. It’s not the kind of thing you see written about in headlines every week, but within cricket circles, there was enormous respect for Simpson and what he gave to the game.

He demanded work ethic, discipline, and accountability — and he got the best out of his players because he showed them that he would never ask them to do something he wasn’t prepared to do himself.

For a generation of Australian players, he was the bridge between old-school grit and the modern professional era. He gave his time, his knowledge, and his belief to players who were still finding their way in a game that was only just turning into a full-time career. That contribution shouldn’t be underestimated.

It’s why his passing feels like more than the loss of a great cricketer or coach. It’s the loss of someone who set standards that still resonate in how Australia play their cricket today.

And when you think about standards, it brings you back to the present. Australia’s first one-day international against South Africa in Cairns was a reminder that cricket is never just about talent — it’s about awareness, resilience, and taking responsibility when the pressure is on.

Mitch Marsh’s call to bowl first was an interesting one. Maybe dew was a factor, and he backed his bowlers to use the conditions. That’s a fair enough tactic.

But what followed with the bat was concerning. The collapse was sharp and one we’ve seen in recent ODIs — wickets tumbling quickly, pressure mounting, and by the time you blink, the Aussies were six or seven down for next to nothing.

It has become a bit of a pattern in ODIs recently. While the T20 side has found success and rhythm, there have been some similar collapses there also.

ODI cricket requires a different type of commitment. There has to be a price on your wicket, a willingness to graft through the tough overs, and an awareness of the match situation.

Don’t forget to rotate the strike in these moments, help your mate at the other end who is getting bogged down by good bowling.

Rotation of strike was always a talking point in batting team meetings because you can’t always hit yourself out of trouble.

This is when your senior players need to take control, coaches share their knowledge and what they see from the sidelines, slow the game down, and show the next generation how to wrestle momentum back from the opposition.

Collapses happen — every team goes through them. But the teams that learn from those moments, who communicate in the middle and reset together, are the ones that turn setbacks into growth.

South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj bowled to the conditions superbly. He earned his wickets and deserves full credit for hitting the right areas. He was at his very best getting his first 5-fa in ODI cricket.

But from Australia’s side, it was an opportunity missed to show calm under fire. These are the moments where the younger players will be learning what it feels like to stay in the contest, even when the flow of the game is going against them.

That’s where Simpson would have been in his element. He understood that cricket isn’t just a game of skills — it’s a game of awareness, discipline, and mindset. He knew how to drill those lessons into players, so they’d be ready when the real pressure came.

As we remember Simpson’s legacy, it’s worth recognising that the same lessons apply today. Australian cricket has always been built on hard work, resilience, and learning from the tough days. His life’s work was proof of that.

Now it’s up to the current players to carry it forward.