This story was written by Bob Simpson AO, AM
Former Australian Test Cricket Captain
Cricket has enabled me to travel to many parts of the world, such as England, Scotland, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, The West Indies, Nepal, The Nederlands, Denmark, Malta, Ireland, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Bob with Dawn Princess
But my favourite destination is Bermuda, where I coached the national cricket team.
Having just visited Bermuda’s beautiful shores again as part of Dawn Princess’ 2011 world cruise, I had cause to reflect on the cricket I have seen around the globe.
With a backdrop of The Himalayas, cricket flourishes in beautiful Nepal and only a few years ago they won the under 19 World Championship. With only about 75 minutes flying time to Delhi, the Nepalese are inundated with TV coverage of cricket. Indeed, during my stay in Katmandu on one occasion, I could watch test matches beamed in live from three difference countries.
Cricket has been played in Malta for more than 100 years and while I holidayed there on one occasion I was able to watch a match between the Malta National Team and “The Crows.” The Crows from New Zealand were led by Russell Crowe, who was at the time making Gladiator in Malta, and contained two of his cousins, New Zealand test cricketers Martin and Jeffrey Crowe.
Even in Greece, I was able to view a lovely cricket oval in the centre of Corfu’s main city as I travelled with my wife, Meg, on a seven-day cruise from Venice. As I stood viewing the oval, our guide was discussing cricket and claimed that Greece had just won the Cricket World Cup.
Hamilton Harbor in Bermuda
As I was mulling over these claims, a very English voice came from amongst my fellow passengers: “I bet he doesn’t know who you are”. In discussion with this man, he revealed he was a cricket tragic. He hadn’t seen me play for over 30 years and I was amazed he recognized me after all that time.
Cricket fans can be fanatics but none more so than an American I ran into in Karachi, Pakistan. His name was also Bob Simpson and he had an amazing amount of knowledge about my career, including my batting and bowling statistics. I was to run into him all over the cricketing world on numerous occasions.
Though not in Bermuda….
What is it that I love so much about Bermuda?
I first went there in 1978 on the way home from a tour of the West Indies. It was the period when I made a comeback to test cricket during the upheaval of World Series Cricket.
I also went there twice as Australia’s coach in the 1990s and was approached to coach the Bermuda National Team.
This period gave me the opportunity to explore this magical island.
St. Peter's Church in St. George, Bermuda
The pink beaches caught my attention first. I was to learn that Bermuda is surrounded by coral and the beaches were generally of fine coral.
History suggests that there are more wrecks on this coral than anywhere else in the world.
Bermuda is stuck on its own in the Atlantic Ocean and was unknown to sailors. In the time that Spain was the master of South America it is claimed the Spanish ships, loaded with plundered gold and anything of wealth they could steal, smashed into the coral reefs off Bermuda as their crew were unaware Bermuda was in direct line of the path they took to Spain.
My first impression of Bermuda was that it reminded me of parts of England. It is much brighter of course, with magical coloured houses – all with white roofs. On enquiry, “why white roofs?” I was told Bermuda doesn’t have any rivers of note and rainwater gathered from the roof was piped to water tanks underneath the kitchen.
While they have no meaningful rivers they have plenty of bridges, some large, but most small and beautiful as they join the numerous small islands which make up Bermuda.
While Princess Cruises’ ships berth at the fascinating Royal Dockyards, the smaller cruise ships still dock in the centre of Bermuda, the capital, Hamilton.
Bob (far left) with the 1961 Australian test cricket team aboard P&O’s Himalaya
It was my first sight of Hamilton and it came as a shock seeing ships berthed just 50 yards from the main shopping area.
And what of the cricket? The Bermudians tell me that cricket was played in Hamilton when Australia was still a penal colony. It is well organized and they have a team in every state. They love the game and love to hit balls out of the grounds.
I have to say, their standard is pretty good – despite the fact they don’t have a huge population. They have one major knock out competition and this arouses much passion. Betting is huge (I wonder if the ICC knows about this), and the team that wins are heroes to all in their small community.
How good are they? They have qualified for the limited Over World Cup which suggests they can play a bit.
Hi Bob, Really a hi to Meg, whom I worked with at Elvy’s so many
years ago. Maybe we will meet up on a Princess cruise one day
I have been on several, loved reading your story
Regards to you both Joy
I had the temerity to speak to you in Bergen on recent world cruise.
I’m so glad that I did. Had a quick chat a few more times.
We also loved Bermuda, but unfortunately that day I developed the shingles and unfortunately I am still in some pain. that’s life i guess.
We love Princess cruise lines and we are off around NZ in feb (5th time)
we also remember you as a very gentlemanly player. Best wishes Madge Tuxworth
Hi Bob, though I recognized you but wasn’t sure. I was going to say ‘hello” but then thought that I should not annoy you. I wish now that I had spoken to a legend of the game.
I was on the recent world cruise “Dawn Princess” and of course recognised Bob Simpson. In my opinion it was Bob who elevated the importance of good fielding to restrict your opponent scoring too freely. A great contributor to the game of cricket. Thanks Bob.
The only time I’ve seen you play in the flesh, was not at cricket, but at golf! It was at the old Kew Golf Course in the early1960′s, as I recall. You walked up to the first tee, teed up, addressed the ball (I don’t even recall a practice swing) an launched the ball in a most unbelievable trajectory, about 300 yards down the fairway. I can still picture that shot 50 years later.
I knew you were on board, Bob, but I didn’t get a chance to shake your hand and thank you for the hours of pleasure you gave my cricket-loving menfolk.
Keep travelling. I just recently lost my dear friend and neighbour, Tess Hassett, Lindsay’s widow and miss her very much.
I met Bob one of my cricket heros on the 2009 cruise and what a suprise to see him again on the 2011 cruise. he was an inspirational cricketer who challenged the odds often and left a lasting memory with me. When he was left out of the team to South Africa early in his career he was the most determined batsman in the domestic series and again when was still a great player he was ecalled to lead a team of wery young cricketers to the west Indies in thei peak days he inspired us all whith his accomplishments.
I did not want to intrude on the great mans time as he seemed a he wanted to be a private person and I respected this. I of course would gave talked cricket and I am sure that he is probably overdone on this topic so my moments were confined to meeting him on occasions and saying good morning or afternoon. I met his on a couple of occasion in ports and we discussed the merits of them for a few moments. this was enough for me and I will always remember travelling with one of Australia’s most remarkable cricketers.
It was a thrill to meet Bob on the recent Dawn Princess 2011 World cruise. I was able to tell him a lovely story about how his daughter, Kim, had got me a bat signed by her Dad (my childhood hero) for something I did as a cricket umpire in Adelaide a few years ago.
Gee,Bob sure likes these “Dawn Princess” cruises…We were on the 2009 World Cruise of “Dawn Princess” and Bob was on that one as well. Like him we enjoyed Bermuda, admired the neat attire of the businessmen in their Bermuda shorts and long socks, very smart.
Clifford
Hi, I spent two-years in Bermuda, from 1978 to 1980 working at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. I had the best time, and it was a fantastic place then; I wonder how much it has changed. Like you I would love to go back for a visit.
Good one, Mate!!
Thanks, Bob, for sharing such a personal and special story!
Great story Bob!