By Sky's 3rd birthday in 1978 Packer felt ready to take the next step. Like his father and brother he was obsessed with Cricket and like his family felt that the current cricketing setup regarding players pay was a joke. He wanted to give the sport a boost and make it as popular as football in the UK. He was a regular at the Oval and on a particularly slow day he had a eureka moment. A limited overs version of the game played at night with players on guaranteed contracts.
During a post match drink with the club president WH Sillitoe Packer put the idea forward. He proposed a charity match between Surrey and a select XI live on Sky...
"It would have to be outside of the regular season"
"Of Course"
'And there would be no attempts of 'playing to the gallery'
"Naturally"
"Very well Mr Packer, I shall consult the board."
"Thank you, and please call me Clyde"