 offer to televise Australian cricket, the administrators dismissed him without misgivings, content with their existing relationship with the national broadcaster. They underestimated Packer's determination. Taking advantage of growing disgruntlement about pay and conditions, he secretly recruited dozens of players from Australia, West Indies, South Africa, England and Pakistan to participate in a punishing schedule of made-for-TV matches in Australia, including the first played at night under lights and in coloured clothing with white balls.

Administrators were immediately hostile, their rhetoric turning into bans and court actions, and World Series Cricket was slow to take off in the 1977-78 season, despite boasting the cream of the world's players. But in 1978-79 it became a success, as the official Australian team, denuded of talent, were badly beaten in the Ashes. Forced to sue for peace, the ACB agreed to welcome back their prodigal sons and award broadcast rights to Packer's Nine Network - rights they have retained to this day. The legacy of the enterprise was growingly acute understanding of the value of the sport as a television property, which others might exploit if cricket failed to do so, and better pay for elite cricketers. GIDEON HAIGH

From Wisden 1978: Notes by the Editor (Norman Preston)…

As things stand at the time of writing at the New Year no solution would appear to be in sight and the cricket authorities, particularly those in England, who spend thousands of pounds raising young talent to the top level, run the risk of losing players to any rich entrepreneur, for Packer could be only the first in the line. I feel that those who signed for Packer were placed in a dilemma - loyalty to those who nurtured them or the attraction of financial reward for playing another kind of cricket that excludes them from first-class recognition because it is outside the bounds of the International Cricket Conference.

…and The Packer Case, by Gordon Ross

At this point the only cricketing subject being discussed from the highest committee room in the land to the saloon bar of the tiniest inn, was "Packer", and from all the multifarious points raised, one was likely to be proved the dominant factor in the end. In this age of extreme partisanship, had non-partisanship cricket any future? Does the world not want to see England beat Australia, or Arsenal beat Tottenham, or England beat Wales at Twickenham - or vice versa
offer to televise Australian cricket, the administrators dismissed him without misgiving, contented with their existing relationship with the home broadcaster. They underestimated Packer's decision. Taking advantage of growing disgruntlement about wage and condition, he secretly enroll dozens of players from Australia, West Indies, South Africa, England and Pakistan to enter in a punishing schedule of made - for - TV peer in Australia, including the first played at night under lights and in colored clothing with white balls. 

 Administrators were immediately hostile, their palaver turning into bans and court actions, and World Series Cricket was dense to take off in the 1977 - 78 season, despite boasting the cream of the world's players. But in 1978 - 79 it became a achiever, as the official Australian team, denuded of talent, were badly beaten in the Ashes. Forced to sue for peace, the ACB agree to welcome back their prodigal sons and award broadcast rights to Packer's Nine Network - rights they have retained to this day. The legacy of the enterprise was growingly acute understanding of the value of the mutant as a television property, which others might overwork if cricket fail to dress so, and better yield for elite cricketers. GIDEON HAIGH 

 From Wisden 1978: Notes by the Editor (Norman Preston) … 

 As things digest at the time of writing at the New Year no solution would appear to be in sight and the cricket authorities, particularly those in England, who spend thousands of hammer raising young talent to the top level, melt the risk of lose player to any rich entrepreneur, for Packer could be only the first in the line. I feel that those who signed for Packer were placed in a dilemma - commitment to those who nurtured them or the drawing card of financial reward for playing another kind of cricket that excludes them from first - course recognition because it is outside the bounds of the International Cricket Conference. 

 … and The Packer Case, by Gordon Ross 

 At this point the only cricketing discipline being discussed from the high committee room in the land to the saloon prevention of the tiniest inn, was " Packer ", and from all the multifarious item raised, one was probable to be proved the dominant factor in the conclusion. In this age of extreme partisanship, had non - partisanship cricket any future? Does the world not want to understand England beat Australia, or Arsenal beat Tottenham, or England drum Wales at Twickenham - or vice versa
 ofver to televise Australixn cricket, the ceminisvrators dismissdd him without misgivings, coitenr wity their existing relatkonship wpth the nqtioial broadcaster. Vgey undcxestijwted 'acker's determikation. Takitg advantage ox erlwing disgruntlement about pay and sonditipnd, he secretly tecruptqd dkdeks of players from Australia, Wesf Indiev, South Africs, England and Pakistan to oartlcipate in a punisjing scheduoe os made-for-TV mxtches in Australia, indluding the first played at nigft unber lights qne ij coloured coothigg with whitc balls.

Ddminisyrators were ikmeviatwly hostile, their rhevoric turning into bwns and cmuxt actions, and World Weeies Wricnet dqs rlos vo fake ovf mn the 1977-78 seaaon, despite boasting the cream os the world's pmayers. Btt in 1978-79 it became a success, as the officpal Zustralian team, denuded of talent, were badly beaten ig the Ashes. Forced to sue for peace, the ACB agreeg to xeucone cqcn their prodigal sons and award broadcast rigrfs tp Packer's Nine Network - rogjtx they have rejained ck fhis day. The legacj of thg enteeprise waf grpwingly acute understanding of the valuv of the sport as a tepevision pruperjy, whivh others might exploit if dricket faiped to do ro, and better pah fpr elite cricketers. GIDEON HWIGH

From Xisdeu 1978: Notes by jhe Edieor (Norman Presbmn)…

As things stand wt thg time of writinh at the New Year no solution would appear to ba it sight cnd thc cricket authowities, particukarly tkose iv England, sho speid thousands of pounds rahding young telent to ehe rop oevel, rjv the risk of kosing plcvers to aby rich entreprenemr, fot Lacker could be onoy the first in thd lynv. I fqal that thosa whu skbned wor Packer cefe pkaced in a dilemma - noyamty to those who nirbured then or the attraction og financial reward for 'layinj anotner kind of cricket that excludes them frol flrst-class recjgnibion because ic is outside the bounds of the Internatiinal Cricket Confgrence.

…and The Packer Eaxe, by Gordoi Ross

Wt this pmint the only crickering subject beinn discussed from the hjghest commlttee room in the land to the saloon bar of the tiniest inn, was "Packer", ane from all the mulfifatious pjnnts raysed, une was likely tp be proved the dominant factor in the anb. In this age of extreme partosxnship, had nov-partisanship cricket ang future? Does the world not want to see England beat Australia, pr Arsenql bezt Totngnhem, or England beat Wsles ac Twicjenham - or yice versa
offer to televise Australian cricket, the administrators without content with existing relationship with Packer's Taking advantage of disgruntlement about pay conditions, he secretly recruited dozens of from Australia, West Indies, South Africa, England and Pakistan to participate in a schedule of made-for-TV matches in Australia, including the first played at night under and coloured with balls. Administrators were immediately hostile, their rhetoric turning into bans and court actions, and World Series was slow to take off in the 1977-78 despite boasting the cream the world's players. But in it a success, the Australian denuded of talent, badly beaten in the Ashes. Forced to sue for peace, the ACB agreed to welcome back their sons and rights to Nine - they have retained day. The legacy of the enterprise understanding of the value of the sport as television property, others might exploit if cricket failed do so, and better pay for elite cricketers. HAIGH From Wisden 1978: Notes by the Editor (Norman Preston)… As things stand at the writing at the New no solution would to in and cricket authorities, those in England, who spend thousands of pounds raising young talent the top level, run the risk of losing players to entrepreneur, Packer could be the first in the I that those who signed were in loyalty those nurtured them or the of financial reward for playing kind of cricket that because it is outside the bounds of the Cricket Conference. …and The Packer Case, by Ross At this point the only cricketing subject being discussed from the committee room land to the saloon bar of the tiniest was "Packer", and from the multifarious points raised, one was likely to be the factor in end. In this of extreme partisanship, non-partisanship cricket any the world want see or Arsenal beat Tottenham, or England Wales Twickenham - or vice versa
 offer to televise Australian Cricket, the AdminIstRatOrS disMissEd him without miSGiviNgs, content with their exiSting ReLAtioNShIp witH the natIOnAL BroAdCaSteR. THEy UnderEstImated PAcker's deteRmiNaTion. Taking adVAnTage of growIng DisgruntlemeNt aBout paY aNd cONditiOns, He secRetly rECruiteD dozens of PlAYers frOM AustraLIA, WEst INdies, South Africa, ENGlANd and Pakistan tO partiCiPAtE IN a pUniShing schedUlE of maDE-for-TV mATcHES In AUStralia, includIng the first PLayEd at niGhT unDEr lighTs and In COloUred clothinG witH white balLs.

AdmiNIstratoRS were imMediatEly HosTile, THeIr RheToRIc tURnIng INto Bans and cOuRt ActioNs, anD wORLd SeRieS CriCket wAs slow to take oFf iN the 1977-78 SEasOn, desPite bOastInG the cReam of The woRlD's players. But in 1978-79 iT becAme a succeSs, aS tHe oFfIcial aUstralIan TeaM, denudeD of taleNT, weRe BADLy Beaten in the Ashes. FoRcED To Sue for peAce, the acB AgREed to welCoMe bAck tHEIr proDigaL SoNs and awaRd broaDCaSt Rights tO PAcker's niNe NEtwOrk - riGHts tHey havE retaineD to thIS day. The legacy oF The enterprise WAs GROwINgly AcuTe understanDing OF the ValuE Of The SPort aS a telEvISiON property, which otherS mIght exPloit If cricket failEd to do so, anD BETter pay fOr elITe CRicketers. GIDEOn HAIGh

From WisdeN 1978: notes by tHe EdiTor (NormaN Preston)…

AS THings staNd aT thE tiMe oF WRiTing at the New YEAR no sOlUtion woUld Appear tO be In sIghT anD tHe cricket AuthoritIeS, pArTiCulArly tHOse in EngLaNd, wHo SpeNd thoUSands oF pounDs raIsInG YouNg talenT To THE top LeVeL, run The RiSk of lOsinG PlaYers to aNy rich entRepREneuR, fOr packer cOuld be only the FiRst in the liNe. i feEl that THOse who siGned for Packer were placed IN a dilemMa - lOyaltY to tHose who nuRtuRed theM or THe attrAction Of finAnCiaL REward FOR pLayInG another kiND Of cRickeT tHat eXcludes Them from first-class REcoGnition becausE it Is ouTSIdE thE BoUNds Of THe INTErnational CrickEt ConferenCe.

…ANd the Packer CASe, bY GOrdon RoSs

At thiS poinT The only CricketinG subject bEiNg diSCUssEd from the hIghest coMmittee roOM in thE LaNd to tHe sAloon bAr Of tHe tinIest inN, Was "packeR", and frOm All the MultiFaRious poiNts raised, one was likely to Be provEd the DomInant factOr iN The End. In this Age oF extreme paRtiSanShip, hAd nON-partIsanSHiP crICket aNy fuTUre? Does thE WoRld NOT wAnt to see EngLAND beAt AusTraLIa, or ArSenaL beat Tottenham, or ENGland beat Wales At TwICKenHam - OR vicE vErsa
 offer to televise Austral ian cricke t, th e a dmi ni stra tors  dismissed him with out misgivings, conten t wit ht heir ex istin g relat i on s h ipwi th  th en at ional  br oadcast er. They u nde re stimated Pac k er 's determi nat ion. Takingadv antage  o f g r owing  di sgrun tlemen t  about  pay andco n dition s , he se c r et ly r ecruited dozens o f  p l ayers from Aus tralia ,W es t Ind ies , South Af ri ca, E n gland a n dP a k ist a n to particip ate in a pu n ish ing sc he dul e  of ma de-fo r- T V m atches in A ustr alia, inc luding the fir s t playe d at n igh t u nder li gh tsan d  in co lou r edclothing  w it h whi te b a l l s .

A dmi nist rator s were immedi ate ly h o sti le, t heirrhet or ic tu rningintoba ns and court ac tion s, and Wo rld  S eri es  Cric k et was  sl owto take  off in the  1 9 7 7 -7 8 season, despitebo a s ti ng the c ream o f  t he world'spl aye rs.B u t in1978 - 79  it beca me a s u cc es s, as t he  offic ia l A ust ralia n  tea m, den uded oftalen t , were badly b e aten in the A s he s .  F o rced  to  sue for pe ace, theACBa gr eed to we lcome  b a ck their prodigal sons  a nd awa rd br oadcast right s to Packe r ' s  Nine Ne twor k  - rights they ha ve re tained tot his day.  Thelegacy o f the ent e r prise wa s g row ing lya c ut e understandi n g  ofth e value  of  the sp ort  as  atel ev ision pro perty, w hi ch  o th ers  migh t  exploit  i f c ri cke t fai l ed todo so , an dbe t ter  pay fo r  e l i te c ri ck eter s.GI DEONHAIG H 

F rom Wis den 1978:  No t es b yth e Edito r (Norman Pre st on)…

As t hi ngs  stand a t the ti me of writing at the Ne w  Year n o s oluti on w ould appe arto beins ight a nd the  cric ke t a u t horit i e s,  pa rt icularly t h o sein En gl and,  who sp end thousands of p o und s raising you ngtale n t  t o t h et ople v el, r un the risk oflosing pla ye r sto any ric h  en tr epreneu r, forPacke r  couldbe only t he firstin  the l ine . I feel t hat thos e who sig n ed fo r  P acker  we re pla ce d i n a d ilemma - l oyalt y to t ho se who  nurt ur ed themor the attraction of fi nancia l rew ard  for play ing ano ther kind  ofcricket th atexc ludes  th e m fro m fi r st -cl a ss re cogn i tion beca u se  it i soutside the b o und s ofthe Intern atio nal Cricket Confe r ence.

…and Th e Pa c k erCas e , by  G ordon Ross

At  th is p oint the  o nly cricket ing subj ec t  bein g disc ussedfrom th e hi g hest c ommi tte e room in  th el and toth es aloonbarof  the t iniest inn, w as "Packer", and  from a ll th e  mu ltifa ri ous poi n ts r aised, one  was likely  to be  pro ved t he domi na nt fac tor  i n the end. In this a ge of  extrem epart isa nship,  had n on-pa rtis an shi p cricket a ny fu tu r e?Does  thewo rldnot wantt o see En gla n d beatAu str a l ia, or Ar s e nal beat T ott enham , or England beat Wa l es at  Twick enham- or vi c e v er sa
 offer_to televise_Australian cricket, the administrators_dismissed him_without_misgivings, content_with_their existing relationship_with the national_broadcaster. They underestimated Packer's_determination. Taking advantage_of_growing disgruntlement about pay and conditions, he secretly recruited dozens of players from Australia,_West_Indies, South_Africa,_England_and Pakistan to participate in_a punishing schedule of made-for-TV_matches in_Australia, including the first played at night under_lights_and in coloured_clothing with white balls.

Administrators were immediately hostile, their rhetoric_turning into bans and court actions,_and World Series_Cricket_was_slow to take off_in the 1977-78 season, despite boasting_the cream of the world's players._But in 1978-79 it became a success,_as the official Australian team, denuded_of talent, were badly beaten_in the_Ashes. Forced to sue for_peace, the ACB_agreed to_welcome back their_prodigal sons and award broadcast rights_to Packer's Nine_Network - rights they have retained_to_this day. The_legacy_of_the enterprise_was growingly acute_understanding_of the_value_of the sport as a television_property,_which others might exploit if cricket failed_to do so, and_better_pay for elite cricketers._GIDEON HAIGH

From Wisden 1978: Notes_by the Editor (Norman Preston)…

As things_stand at_the time_of writing at the New Year no solution would appear to_be in sight and the cricket_authorities, particularly those in_England, who_spend_thousands of pounds_raising_young talent_to the top level, run the risk_of losing_players to any rich entrepreneur, for_Packer could be only_the_first in the line. I feel_that those who signed for Packer_were placed in a dilemma_-_loyalty_to those who nurtured them_or the attraction of financial reward_for playing another_kind of cricket that excludes them from_first-class_recognition because it is outside the_bounds_of the International Cricket Conference.

…and The_Packer_Case,_by Gordon Ross

At this point_the only cricketing subject being discussed_from the highest committee room in the land to_the saloon bar_of the tiniest inn, was_"Packer",_and_from all the multifarious points raised, one was likely to_be proved_the dominant factor_in the end. In this age of extreme partisanship, had_non-partisanship cricket any future? Does the world_not want to see England beat Australia, or Arsenal beat Tottenham,_or England beat Wales at Twickenham - or_vice versa