In 1974, Australian businessman Kerry Packer assumed control of Channel Nine, one of the country’s leading commercial television stations. With the network’s ratings falling, he decided to turn it round with an aggressive strategy that included more sports content.
A cricket fan, Packer decided to bid for exclusive rights to show Australian Test matches, offering eight times more than the existing contract.
This though was turned down by the Australian Cricket Board (ACB), who felt they owed loyalty to the government-backed ABC that had broadcast the game for more than 20 years. Packer was furious believing that an 'old boy' network was at work.
His fury increased after ABC were awarded another three-year contract at a fraction of the price he had offered. In retaliation, he began planning a series between the best Australian players and a team from the rest of the world.
He contacted Ian Chappell, the retired Australian captain. Chappell provided Packer with a list of names who might be interested in participating in such a series.
The concept gained further traction when Packer managed to recruit Tony Greig, the reigning England captain, to his cause. Not only did Greig sign up himself, but also acted as an agent, helping to convince players from other countries to join.
By the time the Centenary Test between Australia and England took place in March 1977, more than two dozen players had secretly committed to the enterprise, although at that stage the teams had no ground or administration, and the format was still sketchy.
The motivations for the players were varied, but at the heart of it was money. Despite the large revenues generated by international series, most players were paid a pittance, with many of them struggling to make a living.
At the same time, cricketers had very little power. There was no players’ union or body that catered to the rights of professional cricketers, and they had no solid platform from which to negotiate their rights.
Figures like Don Bradman, who remained influential in Australian cricket, insisted that there was no need to hike match fees because playing for the country was reward in itself. But players, struggling to feed their families, could not afford such a charitable view.
And Packer offered a match fee of USD 5,000 per person, a fortune for cricketers of that era.