Anniversary of the 1868 Aboriginal Cricket Tour of England

25 May | First match in England, 1868

On 25 May 1868, an Aboriginal cricket team began its English match programme at The Oval in London. Thirteen First Nations players had travelled from Australia for a tour that became a landmark in sporting history. They were the first Australian cricket team to tour England.

The players behind the milestone

The team included Jardwadjali, Gunditjmara and Wotjobaluk men from western Victoria. Many had learned cricket while working on pastoral stations. Charles Lawrence coached and captained the touring side. Unaarrimin, also known as Johnny Mullagh, became one of its outstanding players.

Across the English season the team played 47 matches. Remembering that achievement means recognising the men as skilled sportspeople, with their own identities, Communities and connections to Country.

Achievement within a difficult history

The tour also exposed the players to racist scrutiny and a demanding programme of performances beyond cricket. Bripumyarrimin, also known as King Cole, died in England. Historical accounts therefore require care: sporting recognition should sit alongside an honest account of the pressures and losses experienced by the team.

ABC’s historical reporting examines the commercial interests behind the tour, the prejudice directed at the players and the restrictions that subsequently narrowed opportunities for Aboriginal cricketers. This was a remarkable achievement without an equal expansion of opportunity afterwards.

Why this anniversary matters

This anniversary offers schools and workplaces a starting point for examining whose achievements become part of a national story. It invites us to ask how we remember pioneers, whose names we learn and what institutions do to make participation fairer.

A useful commemoration goes beyond repeating that the team was “first”. It makes space for the players’ skill and cultural identities, and considers what their experiences reveal about recognition, power and access in sport.

Ideas for schools and workplaces

  • Begin with the players: choose one player and use the linked resources to research his name, Country and contribution. Note differences in historical spellings rather than assuming all records agree.
  • Compare accounts: examine how a museum, a sporting institution and a contemporary journalist frame the tour. What does each emphasise, and what questions remain?
  • Connect history with practice: discuss what makes a sporting club or workplace welcoming today. Identify one practical action your organisation can take.
  • Handle historical material carefully: explain that linked sources contain names and images of people who have died, and may discuss racism or reproduce offensive historical language.

About the date

This calendar entry marks the first match at The Oval on 25 May 1868, rather than the team’s departure or arrival. The exact match date is recorded in ABC’s historical report and in the Royal Albert Memorial Museum’s account of a visit commemorating the team. The National Museum of Australia independently confirms the tour’s wider history and May–October season.

Further reading and teaching resources