Dan Christian to lead Aboriginal XI squads to commemorate 1868 pioneers with UK tour

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

Fast Facts

• 54,346 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders participated in cricket in the 2016-17 cricket season. A 47% increase on 2015-16, and an increase of over 45,000 participants since 2013-14.
• The average age of the men’s 2018 Aboriginal XI is 24.92
• The average age of the women’s 2018 Aboriginal XI is 20.53
• There are 6 Indigenous State contracted players
• There are 7 Indigenous BBL and WBBL contracted players