South-West Aboriginal Cricket Team 1906
In 1906 the South-West had various cricket teams, including the Bunbury Cricket Club, Parkfield Cricket Club, Harvey, Ferguson and Brunswick (reference). That year, eleven Aboriginal men participated in the competition, forming their own team (reference; reference). These men came from various areas of the South-West, including Quagamerup, Peerabeelup and Manjimup (reference). An advertisement in the Bunbury Herald informing the public of the upcoming game reminded its readers that the first Australian cricket team that went to England in 1868 was made up of Aboriginal men (reference; reference). This team predated the first ‘official’ representation of Australia in England for the first test match by a decade (reference).
The cricket team that travelled to England consisted of thirteen Aboriginal men from western Victoria - Jardwadjali, Gunditjmara and Wotjobaluk country (reference). Their captain was an ex-English cricketer, Charles Lawrence (reference). The men had learnt to play cricket on Victorian cattle stations while working as stockmen (reference). The team played 47 matches in England between May and October 1868 (reference).
The Bunbury match was held on Saturday 20 January 1906 at the Bunbury Recreation Ground (reference). The ‘kick off’ or, in this case, ‘wickets pitched’ was at 2 pm (reference). The match was a significant event in Bunbury, attended by many European and Aboriginal people (reference). This match also had the highest attendance of women for the season (reference). Many Aboriginal people from the South-West attended the game to support their team, with men having their efforts applauded by the women (reference). When the Aboriginal team bowled or caught someone out from the Bunbury Cricket Club or got some runs, they were cheered by their supporters who performed a piece from a corroboree (reference). Despite being beaten, they were good sports (reference). The final score was 184 to 45 to the Bunbury Cricket Club (reference). The highest scorers on the Aboriginal team were R Holland and E Ralph (reference). Their bowlers were Nettup, Nundle and Neddo (reference). Some of these men were well known for their cricketing skills throughout the South-West (reference).
More information on the first Australian cricket team can be found on the National Museum of Australia’s website: Link.