Aboriginal XI cricket squad set to take on Derbyshire

Derbyshire County Cricket Club is set to take on the modern-day counterparts of the Aboriginal XI cricket squad, 150 years after the Australian team was defeated by a Derbyshire team.

The match commemorates the 1868 tour by the Aboriginal cricket team, now honoured as cricketing pioneers when they became the first sporting team from Australia to tour internationally.

The team was defeated by 139 runs by South Derbyshire at the oval in 1868, a match which attracted around 20,000 spectators.

Two Twenty20 matches, seeing men’s and women’s Aboriginal squads take on Derbyshire representatives, will come to The 3aaa County Ground on Sunday 10 June. Both matches will be free to watch and several international players are set to feature, including Dan Christian and D’Arcy Short.

The 13 male cricket players on tour in June will proudly represent each 1868 player by displaying their name on the back of their uniform. The female squad will wear their own names on their back as they are the first female Indigenous team to tour the UK.

Frank McArdle, Chief Executive of South Derbyshire District Council, said

“It will be an honour to welcome the counterparts of the Aboriginal cricket team to Derbyshire.  The day will be significant as we remember the historical 1868 match.”

The 2018 schedule includes matches against Surrey, Sussex, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and the Marylebone Cricket Club.

The Australian 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 commemorative matches, players will inspire future generations of indigenous cricketers through interactive activities which mark the significance of the 1868 events.

The Chairman of South Derbyshire District Council will be attending the Derbyshire match, which will take place on Sunday, June 10.

24 May 2018