Bob Simpson

weren't their backside off, were they?

Well, they came through an era when Bobby Simpson took over the Australian team back in the late 80s.

And he set the standard, Bobby Simpson.

Bobby Simpson's probably the best slipper that Australia's produced.

I didn't play with him, obviously, but you speak to a lot of people and they reckon he was a gun.

Yeah.

Steve Smith is the best slips catch in Australian cricket history.

Bob Simpson has the numbers per innings, and Smith might get that, incidentally.

But for longevity, for acrobatics, for athleticism, which we know this generation is more athletic in its sport than the previous generations were, you couldn't have a sensible debate that didn't have Smith as the greatest slips fielder Australia's ever produced.

All right, there's Gerard.

Derek from Trigg.

has messaged in and said, I'm giving away my vintage here, but back in the 60s, Colin Bland from South Africa was one of the best cover fielders I ever saw, and Bobby Simpson was head and shoulders above anyone in the slips.

Thanks, Derek from Trigg.

Keep them coming here right across the afternoon on 91.3 Sport FM.

And then I started thinking about Sir Donald Bradman's 304.

Bob Cowp was 307, and Bob Simpson was 311, and Sir Donald Bradman was 334, because I knew they were the only four Australian scores of over 300.

So I knew that from history.

There they are, poised on the balcony, the Australians, for this moment in history.

Steve Smith is the best slips catch in Australian cricket history.

Bob Simpson has the numbers per innings, and Smith might get that incidentally.

But for longevity, for acrobatics, for athleticism, which we know this generation is more athletic in its sport than the previous generations were, you couldn't have a sensible debate that didn't have Smith as the greatest slips fielder Australia's ever produced.

So that was Gerard's thoughts on Steve Smith.

Bradman's the best batsman, but Sobers is the best, best, uh, cricketer.

Yeah.

And, uh, I grew up hearing through the '80s and whatever else that Bob Simpson was, was the best slip fielder Australia had, but Derek Watley made a good point on the radio.

I mean, that's, um...

And they said, "This would be a good place to stop for a cuppa." And they did.

And they'd all signed the board, and I rushed in and said, "Bobby Simpson is Norman O'Neill.

These guys are-- Well, it's Trechikov." "Well, who's he?" "But this is Norman O'Neill."

[laughs] Who's the artist? Yeah.

But he has had moments where he himself would say he's dropped about four or five that he should never have dropped.

But Bob Simpson is probably the greatest slips catch.

Stephen Fleming, who's the new coach of England.

Marnus isn't bad.

I, I think one.

A- and, you know, his stunning catches, I, I think all those boys that you mentioned, Greg Chappell's another one, Bobby Simpson, they'd all have a good highlight reels.

Um, but I think Steve Smith's caught more stunning catches than any of them.

Um, and his anticipation last night with the, the Bavuma reverse sweep, uh, was incredible.