LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Kerry Packer: Cricket
built 818 days ago
Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer, the plain-speaking, no-nonsense television tycoon with an eye for opportunities and "to hell with the establishment" outlook was the storm that attempted to turn the game inside out. Packer, a name that was to be synonymous with a new brand of cricket, bought his honour with the Establishment's sorrow, as he pumped in over three million US dollars to sign 50 of the world's leading players to start a parallel cricket organisation and a series of matches.
Source:
One-day international cricket is now an international phenomena as a result of Kerry Packer hard work. He changed the cricket forever. He introduced the colored clothing in cricket and made cricket commercialized game. Because of him cricket went to next level and everyone can watch cricket on television. Packer died in his sleep on Tuesday at the age of 68.
Source:
Packer was famously quoted from a 1976 meeting with the Australian Cricket Board, with whom he met to negotiate the rights to televise cricket. According to witnesses, he said: "There is a little bit of the whore in all of us, gentlemen. What is your price?" [1]
Source:
Packer only briefly outlined his vision of Heaven to media. Casinos, Polo fields and Cricket competitions where players wear pajamas and play at night under lights feature heavily. Angels would take on more service-oriented roles such dealing cards or bar work. "Currently, Heaven is really not utilising their work force efficiently," Packer said.
Source:
Even as the International Cricket Council had a series of meetings of all its affiliates, Packer went ahead with his plans of a "rebel" series. Having been denied the use of traditional cricket venues, he converted football grounds and public parks into cricket stadia by transplanting turf pitches in concrete troughs.
Source:
Outside Australia, Packer was best known for founding World Series Cricket. In 1977 the Nine cricket rights deal led to a confrontation with the cricket authorities, as top players from several countries rushed to join him at the expense of their international sides.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Cricket