World Series Cricket - January 1978

January 3 WSC Australia win the third Supertest in Adelaide by 220 runs, dismissing WSC West Indies for 290 (Viv Richards 123, Bright 4 for 74, Lillee 3 for 61). Total attendance for the four days: 15,430. Four days' attendance at the Melbourne Australia v India Test match was 82,100. The Australian Cricket Board, represented by chairman R. J. Parish, secretary A. R. Barnes, treasurer R. C. Steele, Sir Donald Bradman, and L. V. Maddocks, have discussions in Melbourne on the High Court ruling with D. G. Clark, chairman of the ICC, and J. A. Bailey, secretary.

January 7 In Perth, Dennis Lillee leaves the field with a badly-sprained right ankle during his fourth over in the WSC Australia v WSC West Indies game. The crowd of 13,080 is the largest so far to watch a day's play in the World Series. A Save Sydney Cricket Ground Committee opens its campaign at Cricket House. Headed by Air Commodore Sir Hughie Edwards and former Board chairman T. C. J. Caldwell, the Committee wants to safeguard first-class cricket at the SCG. It may be in jeopardy as a result of new State legislation whereby the SCG Trust becomes a corporation subject to the control and direction of the Minister for Sport and Recreation. The present Minister, Mr Booth, has given an assurance that first-class cricket at the ground will not be threatened, but the Committee desires a clause in the new charter guaranteeing the NSWCA dominant rights to the SCG each summer.

January 9 Fourteen WSC players sign a letter to the Australian Cricket Board expressing their availability and keenness to take part in the tour of West Indies. Signatories are: Greg Chappell, Rick McCosker, Ian Redpath, Doug Walters, Ian Davis, David Hookes, Gary Gilmour, Len Pascoe, Mick Malone, Wayne Prior, Max Walker, Ray Bright, Rod Marsh, Richie Robinson.

January 10 The Western Australian Cricket Council votes 26 to 2 against reinstating WSC players (there are eight from Western Australia) with their clubs and considering them for State selection.

January 11 It is revealed that an approach has been made to Zaheer Abbas and Imran Khan to play for Pakistan in the third Test match against England.

January 12 Mushtaq Mohammad is the third WSC player to be invited to make himself available for the Karachi Test match. TCCB secretary Donald Carr returns from his fact-finding trip to Australia, having had informal talks with various people but having seen no WSC cricket.

January 13 ICC secretary Jack Bailey, recently returned from a tour of major cricket administration offices around the world with chairman David Clark, announces that a special ICC meeting will be held at Lord's on February 1, principally to decide whether to appeal, in conjunction with the TCCB, against the High Court ruling in favour of Kerry Packer's players.

January 14 Pakistan's chairman of selectors, Imtiaz Ahmed, announces 14 names for the third Test. No WSC players are included. The Pakistan Board repeats that it has not invited any WSC players to return from Australia. Bruce Laird makes 106 in WSC Australia's 249 for 4 against WSC World XI in a Supertest at Sydney Showground- the first not to clash with a Test match. Attendance is 14,843, but it is known that quantities of free tickets were distributed before the event.

January 15 Before returning to England because of a broken arm, tour captain Mike Brearley issues the following statement in Karachi: "The English touring team are unanimously opposed in principle to players contracted to World Series Cricket being considered for selection for official International Cricket Conference Test matches." Manager Ken Barrington adds that the players were "concerned about the future of the game".

The Inside Track column in the Sunday Times records that the latest McNair Anderson survey showed that the Australian Open Tennis Championships rated 19.3, with 9.2 for the Test match against India (which Australia lost) and 5.0 for the Adelaide Supertest (won by WSC Australia).

In Sydney, 12,612 watch WSC World XI reply to WSC Australia's 304 (Procter 4 for 33) with 199 for 4 (Viv Richards 79 not out, Barry Richards 57). There is a five-minute interruption when four women with anti-apartheid banners run out to the middle. Some of the players take their banners from them, and three of the demonstrators are later charged with offensive behaviour.

A Daily Telegraph report states that a Melbourne University study group expect the original Packer investment of £3 million to sustain a loss of more than £ 1 million. The television industry puts the loss even higher.

January 16 Mushtaq, Imran, and Zaheer attend practice in Karachi, and Pakistan captain Wasim Bari says that they should be asked to sign a declaration that they will be available for Pakistan at all times in the next two years. John Woodcock of The Times reports that Wasim Raja is so upset by the likelihood of losing his Test place to Mushtaq that he has shaved off his beard and is talking of giving up the game. England captain Mike Brearley, during interviews upon his return to London, says, "It is not up to Packer to decide who plays in Tests."

In Sydney, Viv Richards' 119 enables WSC World XI to get within 14 runs of WSC Australia's first innings on the third day of the first `Super Test' (second series). Max Walker takes 7 for 88, and WSC Australia are 13 for 2 in their second innings. Only 5884 are in attendance.

January 17 On the eve of the third Test match, a strike by England players in protest at the inclusion of Packer players in the Pakistan team is averted after several telephone calls between Doug Insole and Donald Carr from Lord's to the England manager in Karachi. New England captain Geoff Boycott and senior players also took part in discussions. The Cricket Council, with the full support of the TCCB, instructs the team to fulfil their contractual obligations by playing the final Test match. Later, manager Ken Barrington informs Lord's that the Pakistan Board chairman has assured him that the three Packer players will not play in the Test. They had been unwilling or unable to give the Board an undertaking that they would be available in future or to make `an apology to the nation'.

The NSW Premier, Mr Wran, undertakes to defer further consideration of the bill concerning the use of Sydney Cricket Ground until the State government has had further talks with the Save the SCG Committee.

On a rain-affected day in Sydney, WSC World XI dismiss WSC Australia for 128 (Roberts 6 for 69) and make 78 for 1, needing a further 65 to win. The attendance is only 2080.

In Lismore, NSW a WSC Australian XI score 263 (Trevor Chappell 56) against a WSC World XI in a two-day match, watched by 3800.

January 19 WSC World XI (145 for 6), captained by Tony Greig, beat WSC Australia by four wickets on the extra (sixth) day, which began two hours late because of rain. Ian Chappell sets a bodyline-type field for the fast bowlers against Viv Richards, and Gilmour finishes with 4 for 26.

Dennis Yagmich, South Australia's wicketkeeper in recent seasons, has joined WSC for administrative accountancy work and as a player.

In the Sydney Sun newspaper Greig attacks England captain Boycott a second time, suggesting he would have slept soundly as he would not be facing fast bowler Imran Khan in the Karachi Test.

January 20 Australia names its 15 players to tour West Indies. No WSC players are included in the side.

Nottinghamshire, supported by Lancashire, submit a resolution to the TCCB concerning Sussex's participation in county competitions, for discussion at the March 9 meeting. Tony Greig says, during an interview for BBC TV's Nationwide, "For the sake of Sussex from now on I will keep quiet." Yorkshire complain to the TCCB at Greig's derogatory remarks directed at their captain.

It is disclosed that during a meeting between Mushtaq and Zaheer and Pakistan's chief martial law administrator, General Zia ul Haq, it is established that no WSC players will be included in Pakistan's team to tour England this summer.

An article in Australia's Financial Review claims that WSC/Nine Network space salesmen have been offering cut-price deals for the remainder of the 1977-78 season and for next season's TV coverage. Some of the advertising already sold was to have been allocated whether or not there was a WSC series, and some has been of a `contra' nature eg Hertz supply of cars and minibuses, Quantas with air tickets and $200,000 for advertising, Ansett Airways and "various hotels an shopping centres" with supply of services.

January 22 Kerry Packer, on holiday in the USA takes part in the Bing Crosby Pro-Am go tournament, partnering David Graham. `I've had enough pictures taken of me and talked enough to last a lifetime,' says Packer.

January 24 WSC West Indies beat WSC Australia just before midnight in a Melbourne night match. Daniel hits the second-last ball, from Malone, for six. The attendance is 24,638 the best so far for a WSC match.

January 25 Dennis Lillee issues a writ in the Western Australian Supreme Court, challenging the WACA's ban on WSC players.

January 27 Greenidge (114 retired hurt wit an ankle injury), Barry Richards (207), an Viv Richards (72 not out) raise 369 for WSI World XI's first wicket in the Supertest against WSC Australia in Perth. The score the end of the first day is 433 for 1. Richards batting in a crash-helmet, hits four sixes any 28 fours in 296 minutes. Lillee takes 0 for 92 in 17 overs. The crowd numbers 3150.

January 28 About 4000 attend Gloucester Park, while 25,000 attend the first day of the Adelaide Test match.

January 29 A report in Adelaide's Sunday Mail suggests that WSC teams will play in the south of England this year, sponsored by two local businessmen and two from Perth. The matches will be televised, it is claimed, by Trident Television (which controls Yorkshire TV and Tyne Tees TV), but the company's managing director, Paul Fox, denies this, saying that although Kerry Packer is a Trident director, he has no influence on programming.

In the Perth only 3637 pass through the turnstiles. In Adelaide, 19,434 watch the Test match.

The West Indies Board announces that Clive Lloyd has been appointed captain for the forthcoming Test series against Australia.

January 30 WSC Australia (393 and 159; Imran 4 for 24) lose to WSC World XI by an innings and 73 runs in Perth, before 3290 spectators. Afterwards, Ian Chappell says the World XI is the best side he has ever seen, apart from its captain, Tony Greig, who "doesn't deserve a place". He adds: "What is more, I've told him so more than once."

January 31 Greig is sacked as Sussex captain. The committee voted 15-0 in favour of the decision and club secretary Stanley Allen informs Greig in a telephone call to Perth. "He was a very saddened man when I told him," Allen tells Brian Scovell of the Daily Mail. "It's a sad day for me too, because I like to think of him as a friend. He has done a lot for Sussex cricket."

An article in the Adelaide Advertiser states: "The Australian people have voted overwhelmingly against World Series Super Tests. This was finally confirmed in Perth over the past four days."