In the Shadow of Packer: England’s Winter Tour of Pakistan and New Zealand 1977/78

On the back of winning the Ashes in the summer of 1977, England headed off on a gruelling and punishing four-month winter tour of Pakistan and New Zealand - the first without the MCC moniker. Events prior to that tour were to have a massive impact on the world of cricket with Kerry Packer having announced, prior to the summer’s Ashes, plans to hold his first season of World Series Cricket; which would coincide with the England tour. The Pakistan leg of the tour saw rioting at matches, caused by political unrest in the country. On the pitch, history would be created by the slowest-ever Test century scored by Mudassar Nazar. Skipper Mike Brearley was to head home with a broken arm with Geoff Boycott taking over and captaining England for the first time. Promising youngster Ian Botham recorded a maiden century, and future England captain Mike Gatting made his Test debut. When the tourists arrived in New Zealand they lost to the hosts, led by Mark Burgess, for the first time in Test cricket. In the Shadow of Packer tells the story of this historic and tumultuous tour.