1868

Matt Scullion

It was before Smith and Warnie, before the great Don
Before Victor Trumper scored the first double ton
Nine years before the first test and the baggy green
Australia got its first cricket team
A clever bunch of stockmen and sturdy station hands
They picked the game up quickly from settlers on the land
They sailed over to England unsure of their fate
The tour made the headlines in 1868

Chorus
They came from Jardwadjali and Wotjobaluki
Some from Gunditjmara, thirteen men in all
As good as anybody with the bat and ball
The first Australian cricket side was Aboriginal

The tourists were admired for their athletic skills
The games were well-attended, nearly all the seats were filled
Forty-seven matches, they even played at Lords
Winning fourteen while nineteen games were drawn
The standout was Unaarrimin, better known as Johnny Mullagh
A wizz with the cork and willow, a real all-rounder
And there was Jungunjinanuke, nicknamed Dick-a-Dick
Who earned the locals’ respect and wowed the crowd with his bush tricks

Chorus

The team returned to Sydney after six long months
Exhausted from the gruelling trip but proud of what they’d done
But there was no hero’s welcome, no ticker-tape parade
Most went back to the station, others sadly passed away
But in the town of Harrow, there’s a piece of sacred land
Called ‘Johnny Mullagh Oval’ in honour of the man
There’s a cricket museum with pictures of the past
Their names won’t be forgotten, their legacy will last

Chorus


National Museum:   https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/aboriginal-cricket-team


Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Aboriginal_cricket_team_in_England_in_1868


FOOTNOTE:
I found this recent news article* about the 19th Century Aboriginal Cricket Team and the new song, but I know nothing about Cricket (nor sport in general :) so I forwarded it to STEWIE.
Wonderful bloke that he is, he very kindly transcribed it for us all to sing and enjoy!!!

* https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-19/len-pascoe-turned-pioneering-indigenous-cricket-team-into-song/13166612   (story, pics, video link to song, all included)                

Cheers!   
R-J