Chris Simpson was promoted to Queensland captain when Jimmy Maher retired before the final Pura Cup game of 2007-08 and he was awarded the role full-time during the off-season. An allrounder who bowls offspin and bats in the middle order, Simpson faces a tough assignment to perform all his duties to a suitable standard. Back-to-back centuries at the start of last season showed his promise before an untimely interruption caused by a broken finger. He returned to post a total of 498 first-class runs at 27.66, but managed to claim only seven wickets at more than 100. His contributions in nine FR Cup games were also modest.

Simpson has been around the Bulls squad for a long time and was targeted after being part of the Academy in 2002-03. A wrist problem disrupted him in 2004-05, but the following season he showed he had recovered when he won four Pura Cup caps and was selected for the Prime Minister's XI to face West Indies. Simpson also grabbed four West Indian wickets for Queensland in a first-class tour match, but it was his batting that was more useful for the state in the domestic competition. He picked up two half-centuries in a collection of 158 runs at 26.33 and failed to make any inroads with the ball.

In 2006-07 he was the second leading wicket-taker in the one-day competition, capturing 16 victims as Queensland won the title, but he struggled again in three first-class games, where an unbeaten 85 against New South Wales was the peak. Switching from fast bowling to offspin for 2001-02, Simpson played his first Pura Cup match a year later against New South Wales, making a bigger impact in the next season when combining 75 in the last state game of Steve and Mark Waugh with 3 for 8 in the second innings. Simpson, a musician who likes surfing, is also studying for a psychology degree.
Peter English August 2008

Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy 2002

Club: Wynnum-Manly

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Feb 6, 2008 Chris Simpson top scored for the Bulls with 42 © Getty Images

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Mar 1, 2007 Chris Simpson bowls on day one at the SCG © Getty Images

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