Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Matt Scullion, Wildheart Publicity 2020.
I don’t know much about Matt Scullion. I will do some research, but I do know a bit about cricket and the subject of this particular song.
The recent ABC documentary about the first team of Australian cricketers to tour England way back in 1868, has finally shone some light on a criminally overlooked aspect of our early history.
The tour took place well before the first official test between the two nations and the creation of The Ashes which are so highly regarded and so fiercely fought over. And that first team was, apart from the team manager, entirely comprised of Aboriginal players.
They played before large and enthusiastic crowds surprising and delighting the locals wherever they went with their athleticism and remarkable cricketing skill.
They played exhibition games against strong local teams from all over England, including at the Lords ground, and they also gave demonstrations of boomerang and spear throwing.
They acquitted themselves admirably against the inventors of the game ending up with exactly the same number of wins, losses, and draws as their opposition.
The immensity of this achievement has never been fully acknowledged by the powers that be in our national cricketing establishments, nor by governing bodies or the Australian people, although I dare say that most Australians wouldn’t have known about the team, let alone its incredible achievement.
The racism of the time meant that, not only did the team have to sneak out of the country to participate in the tour, but when they returned, despite their obvious successes, they were completely shunned. No parades. No civic receptions… just silence.
Times have changed and now we encourage indigenous players to take pride in their heritage but wouldn’t it be wonderful if we lauded the achievements of our very first tourists and revered them in the same way we cherish the memory of Bradman and The Invincibles.
Matt Scullion has done a wonderful job of lionising those unknown Indigenous sportsmen in this excellent song. He names them and lists their successes.
They should be recognised. Their names should be household names like the Chappell and Waugh brothers, Warnie, Walters, Border, Boonie and the rest.
1868 stands proudly beside Paul Kelly’s Bradman as songs that are an integral part of our great cricketing heritage and national summer sport.
