Bradman and Packer named Australia's most influential

Cricket Australia has celebrated its 100th anniversary by naming Don Bradman and Kerry Packer as the most influential figures in its history. The choices initially appear strange - a great player alongside a media mogul - but both men revolutionised the sport.

Bradman's 20-year batting blitz will never be matched and while Packer's determination to fight the establishment over television rights split the game in the late 1970s, it also produced World Series Cricket, day-night matches and marketing and broadcasting innovation. During this period Bradman was nearing the end of his three-decade administrative career.

Bob Merriman, the Cricket Australia chairman, said Bradman and Packer had made huge contributions locally and globally. "Kerry still has a deep passion for cricket," Merriman told The Australian. "He still wants laws changed to make it more entertaining. He's proactive and his ideas are very sensible."

Merriman said Packer has a "strong view" on television programming and the negotiating for rights between Cricket Australia and Nine, which Packer owns, could lead to every home Test and one-day match being broadcast live into the host cities. "Through 100 years we have wanted to make cricket Australia's favourite sport," Merriman said. "We can't do that if we keep locking a whole lot of people out of seeing it."

The paper reported television rights contributed 70% of the game's revenue with gate-takings making up 20%. Today marks the 100th birthday of the organisation after its first meeting as the Australian Board of Control for International Cricket Matches.