Foloowing his signing with Paker and resignation form the captaincy of Australia after the 1977 tour of England, Chappell was offered the captaincy of WSC Australia but deferred to his brother Ian. However, avoiding the public spotlight did not protect him from consequences in Queensland. While he was still in England he was voted off the Queensland selection panel. Although his Packer contrat made him available, he was not chosen for Queenslnad, which paid out his contract. He was cold shouldered when he visited the Gabba at the start of the season. Although he had been Queensland Sportsman of the Year in 1976, during World Series Cricket he wan not invited back, though past winners were invited every year. When WSC ended the invitations reappeared but it was a long time before Chappell went back.
Then in an interview he gave the Telegraph on 2 November 1977 Chappell hit back at the Queensland administration repeating criticisms of them made by Bradman to him in 1973, when he was considering his move from South Australia to Queensland. Although this stung Queensland pride it was nothing compared to the wrath it aroused in Bradman who took strong exception to this being exposed in public.
Bradman's letter of 10 November begins with a deceptive exchange of pleasantries and family news befoer he suddenly launches the full ferocity of his ire 'The arrival of your letter co-incided with the publication in "The Advertiser" of an astonishing article written by you...your absurd claim...is sheer bloody nonsense, and you know it, the article contains derogatory refereces about me to which I take the strongest possible exception...our discussions were private and confidential and your public reference to them now is both inaccurate and a complete breach of trust...you have blatantly distorted the comparative context...clearly designed to stimulate sympathy for yourself...I played a positive and constructive role in helping to give you the opportunities which enabled your talent to reach its full potential, and I always believed you respected my integrity and sincerity. I am sadly disillusioned...you now seek to publicly denigrate me for your own ends...as an unsolicited contribution, may I remind you of the truth of an old Chinese proverb "HE WHO THROWS MUD LOSES GROUND".
In Chappell's subsequent reply he apologised to Sir Donald for using his remarks out of context. In his response dated 20 January, Bradman acknowledges 'that you have been man enough to apologise to me for your unfortunate public remarks. You gave reasons...which I do not accept as valid because the acid test of a man is his ability to control his emotions when under pressure...But in my lifetime...I have suffered far greater pressures...one must be guided by conscience and integrity to the exclusion of other influences, particularly emotion...Your final reference to Bobbie Simpson mystifies me...I am not responsible for what Simpson says...for God's sake don't get the impression I am to blame...becuase of my prominence as an ex-player,and administrator...I am grossly misrepresented [by the Press]. This is a cross which unfortunately I have had to bear longer than you have been on this earth. It should obtain your understanding and not be used as a stick to beat me with...so...don't blow your top through the press.'