India, Oct. 30 -- From October 30, the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Kowloon has transformed into a high-speed cricket carnival as the Hong Kong Sixes has returned. Just a week later, the Abu Dhabi T10 League will begin in the UAE, as fans get a taste of the rapid evolution of cricket. But while these formats might feel like a modern hyper sprint, the urge to experiment with cricket's DNA is actually decades old.

Long before franchise leagues or 10-over hitting fests, the seeds of the modern-day fast-paced cricketing extravaganza were sown by Australian TV baron Kerry Packer. In the late 1970s, his rebel World Series Cricket turned the tables on the traditional cricketing format. He introduced day-night matches, white balls, and co...