Australia honours 1868 Indigenous team, the first touring side

Sydney, May 11 (UNI) Australia will honour its 1868 Indigenous cricket team today on the occasion of its 139th anniversary of the teams arrival in England as the first ever touring side from Australia.

Cricket Australia and state and territory associations will fly the Aboriginal flag at their offices or grounds to honour the team that arrived in England on 13 May 1868, a Cricket Australia release stated.

As the date falls on a Sunday, the flags will be flown today.

''By flying the Aboriginal flag, Australian cricket will pay its tribute to what is regarded as the first sporting team to compete under a national Australian banner,'' Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said.

''The 1868 Aboriginal tour of England was a critical event in Australia's sporting and cricket history.

''In recent years, the remarkable and courageous achievements of the 1868 team have become more widely acknowledged and celebrated, and we would like that history and recognition to be ongoing,'' Sutherland said.

''Recognising the 13th of May each year, while a simple gesture of the significance of our first Australian cricket team, is another way to acknowledge cricket's rich history and the contribution of Indigenous players,'' he added.

In addition, Cricket Australia's National Indigenous Development squad will gather in Darwin a week after the anniversary for a week-long training camp that will include matches against the Fijian and Papua New Guinean national sides.

The 1868 team set sail from Sydney on 8 February 1868, arriving in England on 13 May. It played 47 matches between May and October, winning 14 games, losing 14 and drawing 19.

The team, including their awarded player numbers, are: Trad.Name Euro. Name Arrahmunyarrimun Peter Ballrinjarrimin Sundown Bonnibarngeet Tiger Brimbunyah Red Cap Bripumyarrimin King Cole Bullchanach Bullocky Charles Lawrence (Captain/Coach) Grongarrong Mosquito Jarrawuk (Murrumgunarrimin) Two Penny Jumgumjenanuke Dick-a-Dick Lyterjerbillijun Jim Crow Pripumuarraman Charles Dumas Unaarrimin Johnny Mullagh Yellanach Jimmy Cuzens UNI XC BJR SAM RS1122