In this week’s edition of ‘In Search of West Indies Cricket,’ Roger Seymour looks at the life and legacy of Kerry Packer. In Part 1, Sunday Stabroek February 7, 2016, he traced the linage of World Series Cricket (WSC) from May to early December, 1977.
WSC Season Two: 28 November, 1978, Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), first day/night one-day game at a ‘traditional’ cricket venue. WSC West Indies dismissed for 128 in 47.3 over, WSC Australians won by 5 wickets in 37 overs, Ian Davis 48 n.o.
Attendance: 44,377 (The first WSC day/night match was played on January 23, 1978, at the now defunct VFL Park, Melbourne, between WSC Australia and WSC World XI.)
Season 1 had been a disaster: virtually ignored by the Australian media and with low attendance figures. During the off-season WSC changed strategy as Packer wielded his political influence to get the government of his home state New South Wales (NSW) to remove the ban on WSC at the SCG and pay for the installation of six light stanchions to illuminate the field. The focus would be Sydney and Melbourne (despite getting permission for the Adelaide Oval,