<P> Employing personality - based marketing, WSC placed great emphasis on the "gladiatorial" aspect of fast bowling and heavily promoted fast bowlers such as Dennis Lillee, Imran Khan, Michael Holding and Andy Roberts . Packer was doubtful of the effectiveness of slow bowling . To counteract the continual rotation of pace bowlers on pitches of unproven quality, WSC batsmen felt the need to increase their bodily protection . In the Sydney Supertest on 16 December, Australian David Hookes was hit a sickening blow from a bouncer bowled by West Indian Andy Roberts . Paradoxically, the effect of Hookes' broken jaw, captured graphically by Nine's cameras, served to "legitimise" the WSC matches: </P> <P>... he had his jaw shattered by a bouncer from Andy Roberts...Until that moment, WSC had looked suspiciously like a thrown - together entertainment package; Hookes' injury impressed the contest's intensity on all observers . </P> <P> This incident had another effect: the first helmets appeared on batsmen's heads . Initially, Englishman Dennis Amiss sported a motorcycle helmet when batting in WSC, and he was quickly followed by many other players . Protective cricket equipment developed rapidly, and by the end of WSC, virtually all batsmen in WSC and official Test matches were sporting some form of protective headwear . </P> <P> WSC decided to place a greater emphasis on one - day cricket than it had previously been given in Australia . A one - day series, the "International Cup" featuring the Australian, West Indian and World teams, was played alongside six Supertests in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth . The first day / night match, played at Melbourne's VFL Park, attracted some curiosity value, but generally the paying public were indifferent to the series . Many took a lead from the hostile press, and official cricket benefited from a dramatic Test series played between Australia and a touring Indian team . The ACB's masterstroke was the appointment of the 41 - year - old Bobby Simpson as Australian captain, after a ten - year retirement from first - class cricket . He led a team of relatively unknown youngsters (with the exception of fast bowler Jeff Thomson, who did not sign up for the WSC) to a 3--2 series victory which was not decided until the final Test in Adelaide . Big crowds attended the Tests, and the media coverage was very supportive of the ACB throughout the summer . </P>

Who was involved in the world series cricket