Wasn’t it a relief that, having had promos shoved down our throats for the past two months, Channel Nine’s big budget mini series Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War didn’t disappoint?
Those who tuned in on Sunday night for the first half of the four-hour drama were treated to some of the best Australian TV in years.
I wasn’t alive for World Series Cricket; my childhood memories of cricket had the
day / night format of the game firmly entrenched in the nation’s consciousness and the Waugh brothers and Warnie were the heroes of the era. But the first half of Howzat? perfectly walked the line between sporty banter – while never alienating those like myself who knew little about the formation of World Series Cricket — and backroom politics and scandal.
Lachy Hulme’s masterful performance as Kerry Packer – the Melbourne actor packed on the kilos, shaved his head and bleached his eyebrows to portray the late media tycoon – should net him a shelf full of awards.
It was great to see Hulme back in a dramatic role; aside from this year’s Beaconsfield telemovie, many of the actor’s recent gigs have been comedies (such as Working Dog projects The Hollowmen and Any Questions for Ben?). While his physical appearance was spot-on, he played Packer with a controlled tension that only occasionally spilled over into a frightening aggressive presence.
Alex England also impressed as Tony Greig
– sacked from his role as England captain due to his clandestine signing of several players to Packer’s commercial concept. Brendan Cowell, Damon Gameau and Offspring pair Matthew Le Nevez and Richard Davies were among the notable actors portraying Australia’s big name cricketers as beer swilling, knockabout larrikins.
It was nice to see Waverley Park (formerly VFL Park) scrub up so well on camera. It was the venue where we left the episode, as a disappointing crowd less than quarter-filled the 78,000 seat stadium for the first WSC match in 1977.
The second episode picks up from there, as World Series Cricket grows. Batsmen wore helmets for the first time, teams donned coloured outfits and crowds turned up in tens of thousands for a more exhilarating form of cricket than traditional tests.
Produced by the team behind last year’s ABC hit Paper Giants (and its sequel, currently in production), Howzat! was always going to be good. But as good as a Greg Chappell slog over the boundary? You bet.
If you missed the first episode, Nine will replay it at 9.30pm Saturday night.
Nine, Sunday, 8.30pm.
