MCC commemorates historic 1868 Aboriginal cricket team as descendants retrace their UK tour
As Australia faced South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord’s, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) welcomed a special delegation from the Harrow Discovery Centre in Victoria to honour the legacy of the 1868 Aboriginal cricket team — the first Australian team to tour the UK and the first group of Indigenous Australians to receive widespread recognition in Britain.
Celebrating Australia’s first international cricket tour
The 1868 Aboriginal cricket team played 47 matches between May and October, including one at Lord’s. They won 14, drew 19, and lost 14 matches, playing on 99 of 126 days across 40 locations in 15 counties. This 2025 visit marks the first UK trip by descendants of the players to retrace their ancestors’ historic journey.
Harrow Discovery Centre delegation visits Lord’s
The visiting group included Josie Sangster, Marcus Curnow, Ian Friend (descendant of Charles Lawrence), and Aunty Fiona Clarke (descendant of James Cousins). Following their attendance at the WTC final and a visit to the Barclays Media Centre, they returned for a dedicated tour of the MCC Museum to share and view objects related to the 1868 tour.
Historic artefacts showcased at MCC Museum
- The Mullagh Medal – introduced in 2020 by Cricket Australia, awarded to the Boxing Day Test Player of the Match, designed after the belt buckle worn by the 1868 team.
- Silver pocket watch – presented to Johnny Mullagh for his performance in Brighton.
- Eulogy for King Cole – written by Charles Lawrence, commemorating the team member who passed away during the tour and was buried at Meath Gardens in East London.
Commemorative stops and book launch on tour
The delegation’s UK tour includes visits to key sites like the Oval, Trent Bridge, Swansea, Bristol, Exeter, and York. At Trent Bridge, the group will launch the fourth edition of “Cricket Walkabout” during a Rothesay County Championship match between Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire.
MCC reinforces historical significance of the 1868 tour
Neil Robinson, Head of Heritage and Collections at MCC, reflected on the moment:
“We were delighted to welcome the group from Harrow Discovery Centre on what is a very interesting tour of the UK… With the 1868 group being the first Australian team to tour the UK, it forms a significant part of cricketing history.”
The MCC previously hosted commemorative events in 2018 to mark the 150th anniversary of the original tour, further cementing the 1868 Aboriginal team’s place in the global cricket heritage.
