Women’s and men’s squads will tour the UK for the first two weeks of June, with both to play under the banner of the ‘2018 Aboriginal XI.’
The event will commemorate 150 years since an Aboriginal cricket team became the first sporting team from Australia to tour internationally.
Ashleigh Gardner and Dan Christian will lead the respective sides against several of the same opposition from the original tour. The schedule includes matches against Surrey, Sussex, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).
Venues used for fixtures against Surrey, Sussex and Derbyshire will be the same as those used in 1868 including a double-header at The Oval.
In 1868, 13 Aboriginal players made the trip to the UK. In 2018, the 13 male players travelling will proudly represent one of those pioneers each on tour by displaying their name on the back of their uniform. The female squad will wear their own names on their back, being pioneers as the first female Indigenous team to tour the UK.
Speaking about what he hopes to achieve in addition to on field performance, men’s Aboriginal XI fast bowler Scott Boland said:
“I look forward to learning more about Indigenous culture and more about what happened during the 1868 tour.
“Going over there with my brother (also in the team) will be great as we can learn a lot together about the story from some of the older guys and some of the coaches as well.”
The uniform incorporates the commemorative artwork titled ‘Walkabout Wickets’ which tells the story of both the 1866 Boxing Day match and the 1868 tour. It was designed by Aunty Fiona Clarke who is the great-great-granddaughter of Grongarrong (Mosquito), one of the stars of the 1868 team.
In addition to the matches, players will engage in activities pre-tour and in the UK to further connect with the significance of the 1868 events as they take over the reigns as story tellers to future generations of Indigenous cricketers.
A selection of players will travel to Victoria’s West Wimmera region to meet with ancestors and visit key sites significant to the 1868 team. Some of these include training and match locations, Johnny Mullagh Oval, Johnny Mullagh’s grave and the Harrow Discovery Centre.
In 1868, all-rounder Bripumyarrimin (King Cole) tragically passed away in the UK. Both squads will visit his place of rest in London to pay their respects.
Teams will also visit a temporary display at the MCC Museum at Lords that explores the history of the 1868 tour. The Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM), Exeter is lending Aboriginal artefacts, newly identified from the 1868 cricket tour to the UK, for display at Lord’s throughout the 2018 season.
Speaking on the squads, Cricket Australia National Talent Manager Greg Chappell said:
“We have assembled two strong squads for this tour that include four players who currently or have previously represented Australia – Christian, Gardner, D’Arcy Short and Scott Boland – and a further six players on WBBL, BBL or State contracts last season.
“Our women’s team has a strong look to the future with an average age of just over 20 while our men have a great combination of youth and experience. I’m confident both squads will perform well against what will be some tough English opposition.”
One noticeable absentee from the men’s squad is Brisbane Heat fast bowler Josh Lalor who is expecting the birth of his first child during the tour.
The tour is proudly supported by the Commonwealth Bank who are the Principal Partner of Cricket Australia’s A Sport for All program.
The official hashtag of the 2018 Aboriginal XI tour to the UK is #walkaboutwickets
Squads
2018 Aboriginal XI – Men
Name |
Mob |
State |
1868 Player Representing |
Dan Christian (C) |
WIRADJURI |
VIC |
UNAARRIMIN (JOHNNY MULLAGH) |
Nick Boland |
GULIGAN |
VIC |
GRONGARRONG (MOSQUITO) |
Scott Boland |
GULIGAN |
VIC |
YELLANACH (JOHNNY CUZENS) |
Brendan Doggett |
WORIMI |
QLD |
MURRUMGUNARRIMAN (TWOPENNY) |
Sam Doggett |
WORIMI |
NSW |
PRIPUMUARRAMAN (CHARLEY DUMAS) |
Damon Egan |
GUNDITJMARA |
VIC |
JUMGUMJENANUKE (DICK-A-DICK) |
Tyran Liddiard |
BIRIPI |
NSW |
BULLCHANACH (BULLOCKY) |
Jonte Pattison |
WIRADJURI |
NSW |
BRIMBUNYAH (REDCAP) |
Nathan Price |
KAMILAROI |
NSW |
ARRAHMUNYARRIMUN (PETER) |
D’Arcy Short |
MITAKOODI |
WA |
BONNIBARNGEET (TIGER) |
Brendan Smith |
DHUNGUTTI |
NSW |
LYTEJERBILLIJUN (JIM CROW) |
Rex Strickland |
WONNARUA |
WA |
BALLRINJARRIMIN (SUNDOWN) |
Dane Ugle |
NYOONGAR / BALLARDONG |
WA |
BRIPUMYARRIMIN (KING COLE) |
Coach – Jeffrey Cook (KAMILAROI)
2018 Aboriginal XI – Women
Name |
Mob |
State |
Ashleigh Gardner (C) |
MURWARI |
SA |
Jemma Astley |
WANARUA |
NSW |
Dharmini Chauhan |
WIRADJURI |
NSW |
Christina Coulson |
QLD |
|
Hannah Darlington |
KAMILAROI |
NSW |
Sara Darney |
WIRADJURI |
NSW |
Zoe Fleming |
KAMILAROI |
NSW |
Haylee Hoffmeister |
PALAWA |
WA |
Emma Manix-Geeves |
PALAWA |
TAS |
Sally Moylan |
WIRADJURI |
ACT |
Natalie Plane |
KAMILAROI |
VIC |
Roxanne Van Veen |
GUNDUNGURRA |
NSW |
Naomi Woods |
KAMILAROI |
NSW |
Coach – Shelley Nitschke
Aboriginal XI Men
5th June – Aboriginal XI v Marylebone CC @ Arundel Castle
7th June – Aboriginal XI v Surrey @ The Kia Oval
8th June – Aboriginal XI v Sussex @ The First Central County Ground
10th June – Aboriginal XI v Derbyshire @ 3aaa County Ground
12th June – Aboriginal XI v Nottinghamshire @ Loughborough
Aboriginal XI WomenFixtures
7th June – Aboriginal XI v Surrey @ The Kia Oval
8th June – Aboriginal XI v Sussex @ The First Central County Ground
10th June – Aboriginal XI v National Cricket Conference @ 3aaa County Ground
12th June – Aboriginal XI v ECB Academy @ Loughborough
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