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Bat and Ball Inn & the Aboriginal Team Cricket Tour of 1868
The team, captained by ex all-England cricketer Charles Lawrence were accompanied by their backers George Graham (a Sydney lawyer), George Smith (Graham’s cousin) and William Hayman. Leaving Sydney on the Paramatta, a wool carrying clipper, on the 8th February they arrived at Gravesend on the 13th May 1868. Upon arrival they were taken to the Bat and Ball Inn, Wrotham Road, for lunch. The team’s players were:
Unaarrimin, known as (k.a.) Johnny Mullagh
Bullchanach, k.a.Bullocky A wicketkeeper, Bullocky was referred to as "at once the black Bannerman and Blackham of his team".
Ballrin, k.a. Sundown (returned to Australia in August through ill health)
Jungunjinanuke, k.a. Dick-a-Dick
Zellanach, k.a. Johnny Cuzens
Bripumyarrimin, k.a. King CBoole (Died of respiratory problems, Guys Hospital, London 24th June 1868).
Brimbunyah, k.a. Red Cap
Murrumgunarriman, k.a. Twopenny
Pripumuarraman, k.a. Charley Dumas
Grougarrong, k.a.Jimmy Mosquito – who "could walk upright under a bar and then jump it in a stander".
Boninbarngeet, k.a. Tiger
Arrahmunijarrimun, k.a. Peter
Jallachniurrimin, k.a. Jim Crow (returned to Australia in August through ill health)
Before their first match of the series, they practiced at the Town Malling ground at West Malling. In total they played 47 matches, 14 won, 14 lost and 19 drawn.
The first match was against a Surrey CC side at the Oval in front of a crowd of 20,000. Surrey batted first. The Aboriginal side were forced to follow on and Surrey won by an innings and 7 runs.
Sources:
National Museum of Australia -
https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/aboriginal-cricket-team#:~:text=In%20May%201868%20the%20first,%2DEngland%20cricketer%2C%20Charles%20Lawrence.
Wikipedia - Australian Aboriginal cricket team in England in 1868 (inc players’ names)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Aboriginal_cricket_team_in_England_in_1868
BBC - Aboriginal cricket: The first Australian tour of England, 1868 (team photo with names)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23225434
M.C.C. Cricket Scores and Biographies, Volume X, 1867 – 1868 by Arthur Haygarth, pub M.C.C. 1878
- ship and date of arrival. Supplementary notes. Dates, locations of matches and results.
Discover Gravesham chronology -
https://www.discovergravesham.co.uk/gravesend-chronology/1853-1872.html
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