The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Cricket world pays tribute to Packer

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Wednesday, Dec 28, 2005

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Cricket world pays tribute to Packer

`The revolution has left a lasting legacy in the way the game is played'

SYDNEY: Just a few hours after Kerry Packer died in his sleep, the cricket world paused on Tuesday to pay tribute to the media magnate's role in changing the face of the global game.

The Australian and South African teams observed a minute's silence before the resumption of play in their Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground while former players, administrators and politicians paid their respects.

Cricket Australia's current chairman, Creagh O'Connor, said Packer's influence on Australian cricket could be rivalled only by Donald Bradman, the sport's greatest batsman.

Packer revolutionised the sport when he established World Series Cricket in the late 1970s and the game has never been the same since.

Annoyed that his attempts to buy the exclusive television rights to broadcast Test cricket in Australia were turned down, Packer decided to take on the establishment.

He poached some of the best international players to form his own competition comprised of three teams from Australia, West Indies and the Rest of the World.

His initial ``SuperTests'' failed to capture the imagination of the public, despite the high standard of cricket, but his pioneering promotion of one-day cricket was an instant success.

Australia's richest man had six floodlight towers built around the Sydney Cricket Ground so matches could be played at night.

A white ball, black sight-screens and coloured clothing were introduced. The establishment scoffed at Packer's ideas, but the crowds loved it and voted with their feet.

The first day-night match was staged at the SCG on November 28, 1978. World Series Cricket officials had hoped for 20,000 spectators but around 50,000 poured in to the famous old ground to celebrate an Australian win.

The organisation whose very existence he once threatened, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday paid tributes to Kerry Packer and remembered the Aussie media tycoon for ``his contributions to the cricket''.

``It was with both shock and great sadness that I learnt the news of Kerry Packer's passing,'' ICC president Ehsan Mani said and added, ``I would like, first of all, to take this opportunity to offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends.''

`Influential'

Former ICC and BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya condoled the sudden demise of the man who popularised one-day cricket. Describing Packer as "one of the most influential men in the history of cricket," Dalmiya sent a condolence message to the former's son James Packer. — Agencies

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