Kerry Packer-The man who changed cricket for better or for bad.Your opinion on it.

[scorpio1990]

While I was going through various threads,Inoticed that not one thread is dedicated to Kerry Packer.So here it is.

Kerry Packer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Few things about the man himself.
World Series Cricket - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia His initiative which changed the face of cricket.
Ashley Mallett remembers Kerry Packer | Specials | Cricinfo Magazine | ESPN Cricinfo A Cricinfo article about him.
The man did change cricket through his World Series Cricket.What are it's long term effects ,you think,which can be seen on the cricket as played today.

 

[benchmark00]

Never heard of him.

Who did he play for?

 

[BoyBrumby]

Definitely helped England win a couple of Ashes series, which I'm sure we all agree is a change for the better.

 

[ganeshran]

Almost all of Packer's innovations eventually became a part of the game.

He is hardly given any credit for his contributions though

 

[JBMAC]

He divided the game and a lot of potentially great players were lost into the wilderness. Besides cricket is played in whites NOT bloody pyjamas.(albeit bright ly coloured ones)

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Changed cricket for the better imo. Love ODI's, which came about thanks to Packer.

 

[fredfertang]

ODIs had been around since 1970 and the first World Cup was two years before he raised his particularly ugly head. I can't see a causal link between WSC and T20, so on balance I'll go with the fact that in the long run what he did was for the good of the game, but I'm not totally convinced

 

[Outswinger@Pace]

A true visionary and an astute businessman, IMHO. Anyone who hasn't so far should read Lillee's auotbiography and what he says about Packer.

Had it not been Packer, I'm sure someone else would have been there. A group of professionals being paid far less than the earnings they bring in would inevitably have caused a revolution at some stage. TV viewership and increasing interest in LOIs was the game's future - as, I believe, a lot of far-sighted people by then (after WC 1975, to be precise) had begun to realise. It was a cash crop well harvested and kudos to Mr. Packer, I'd say!

 

[ganeshran]

He showed ICC how to make money from the game. Television rights, good marketing, proper compensation for cricketers, coloured clothing, drop-in pitches, day night cricket, the white ball all were the brainchild of Packer. The modern day game owes much to him.