{{short description|Australian former professional cricketer (born 1982)}} {{other people|Craig Simmons}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Craig Simmons | image = | fullname = Craig Joseph Simmons | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|12|01|df=yes}} | birth_place = Paddington, New South Wales, Australia | nickname = Simmo | heightm = 1.70 | batting = Left-handed | bowling = Slow left arm orthodox | role = Batsman | country = Australia | club1 = Western Australia | year1 = {{nowrap|2003/04–2004/05}} | club2 = New South Wales | year2 = 2005/06–2006/07 | club3 = Western Australia | year3 = 2008/09–2014/15 | club4 = Perth Scorchers | year4 = 2013/14–2014/15 | club5 = Adelaide Strikers | year5 = 2014/15–2015/16 | columns = 3 | column1 = FC | column2 = LA | column3 = T20 | matches1 = 7 | matches2 = 21 | matches3 = 29 | runs1 = 187 | runs2 = 501 | runs3 = 711 | bat avg1 = 15.58 | bat avg2 = 23.85 | bat avg3 = 25.39 | 100s/50s1 = 0/1 | 100s/50s2 = 0/3 | 100s/50s3 = 2/0 | top score1 = 60 | top score2 = 98 | top score3 = 112 | deliveries1 = 120 | deliveries2 = – | deliveries3 = 84 | wickets1 = 1 | wickets2 = – | wickets3 = 3 | bowl avg1 = 72.00 | bowl avg2 = – | bowl avg3 = 29.33 | fivefor1 = 0 | fivefor2 = – | fivefor3 = 0 | tenfor1 = 0 | tenfor2 = – | tenfor3 = 0 | best bowling1 = 1/37 | best bowling2 = – | best bowling3 = 2/26 | catches/stumpings1 = 3/– | catches/stumpings2 = 4/– | catches/stumpings3 = 5/– | source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/44/44276/44276.html CricketArchive | date = 19 May | year = 2019 }} '''Craig Joseph Simmons''' (born 1 December 1982) is an Australian former professional cricketer. He played domestically for Western Australia, New South Wales, Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers. At grade cricket level, he plays for Rockingham-Mandurah in the WACA district competition, having previously played for Fremantle in WACA district matches and Gordon in Sydney Grade Cricket matches.<ref name="cricinfo1">{{cite web|url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7887.html|title=Player Profile|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|accessdate=2009-11-04}}</ref> A left-handed batsman, Simmons represented the Australian national under-19 team at the 2002 Under-19 World Cup, playing seven matches.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/44/44276/Under-19_ODI_Matches.html Under-19 ODI matches played by Craig Simmons (7)] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 January 2014.</ref> At the tournament, he scored 155 runs from 115 balls against Kenya's under-19 team, contributing to Australia's total of 6/480 from 50 overs and eventual win by 430 runs.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/73/73865.html Australia Under-19s v Kenya Under-19s], ICC Under-19 World Cup 2001/02 (Group D) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 January 2014.</ref>
Simmons made his first-class debut for Western Australia in December 2003, against Victoria at the WACA Ground in Perth.<ref name="cricarch1">{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/44/44276/First-Class_Matches.html|title=First-Class Matches played by Craig Simmons|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2009-11-04}}</ref> He transferred to New South Wales for the 2005–06 season, and regularly played ING Cup matches, as well as top-scoring for New South Wales in the final of the inaugural KFC Twenty20 Big Bash season, which the team lost to Victoria.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/84/84704.html New South Wales v Victoria], KFC Twenty20 Big Bash 2005/06 (Final) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 January 2013.</ref> Playing only twice at state level the following season, Simmons' Cricket NSW contract was not renewed for the 2007–08 season, and he subsequently returned to Western Australia,<ref>[http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/351608.html "Simmons goes home to Western Australia"] – ESPNcricinfo. Published 19 May 2008. Retrieved 16 January 2014.</ref> breaking into the team for a small number of games during the 2008–09 and 2011–12 seasons.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/44/44276/List_A_Matches.html List A matches played by Craig Simmons (14)] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 January 2014.</ref>
After good form for Rockingham-Mandurah at district level, Simmons replaced the injured Liam Davis in the Perth Scorchers' squad for the 2013–14 Big Bash League season.<ref>[http://www.cricketcountry.com/news/adam-vogess-return-to-perth-scorchers-squad-approved-81851 "Adam Voges’s return to Perth Scorchers squad approved"] – The Cricket Country. Published 2 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.</ref> In his fourth game for the Scorchers, against the Adelaide Strikers in mid-January 2014, Simmons scored a century from 39 balls, breaking the record for the fastest Big Bash League century; a record that would not be matched until 11 years later when Mitchell Owen of the Hobart Hurricanes tied it during the 2024-25 final.<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/big-bash-league-perth-scorchers-opener-craig-simmons-blasts-record-century-20140116-30y0i.html "Big Bash League: Perth Scorchers opener Craig Simmons blasts record century"] – ''Sydney Morning Herald''. Published 16 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Walsh |first=Dan |date=27 January 2025 |title=As it happened: Mitch Owen's stunning 39-ball 100 breaks Hobart's BBL drought |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/live-bbl-final-updates-thunder-bat-first-as-hurricanes-chase-first-t20-title-20250126-p5l7ao.html |access-date=28 January 2025 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> He was dismissed shortly after, finishing with 102 runs from 41 balls, with his innings including eight fours and eight sixes.<ref>[http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/craig-simmons-smashes-century-off-39-balls-for-perth-scorchers-in-big-bash-league/story-fn6w5qv7-1226803504013 "Craig Simmons smashes century off 39 balls for Perth Scorchers in Big Bash League"] – couriermail.com.au. Published 16 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.</ref> In the team's semi-final against the Sydney Sixers, Simmons scored another century, 112 runs from 58 balls.<ref>Alex Malcolm (2014). [http://www.espncricinfo.com/big-bash-league-2013/content/current/story/716515.html "Simmons 112 powers Scorchers to final"] – ESPNcricinfo. Published 5 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.</ref> He thus became the first player to score two centuries in Big Bash League matches,<ref>[http://stats.espncricinfo.com/big-bash-league-2013/engine/records/batting/list_hundreds.html?id=158;type=trophy Big Bash League / Records / List of hundreds] – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 February 2014.</ref> and also equalled Chris Gayle's competition record of eleven sixes in a match.<ref>[http://stats.espncricinfo.com/big-bash-league-2013/engine/records/batting/most_sixes_innings.html?id=158;type=trophy Big Bash League / Records / Most sixes in an innings] – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 February 2014.</ref> As of that match, he has a strike rate of 176.51 runs per 100 balls, the best of any player who has faced over 125 balls in the competition.<ref>[http://stats.espncricinfo.com/big-bash-league-2013/engine/records/batting/highest_career_strike_rate.html?id=158;type=trophy Big Bash League / Records / Highest strike rates] – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 February 2014.</ref> He subsequently signed for the Adelaide Strikers for the 2014–15 and the 2015–16 BBL seasons.
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simmons, Craig}} Category:1982 births Category:Australian cricketers Category:Cricketers from Sydney Category:Living people Category:New South Wales cricketers Category:Perth Scorchers cricketers Category:Western Australia cricketers Category:Adelaide Strikers cricketers Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen