The team's legendary all rounder, Johnny Mullagh, who scored 1,698 runs and took 245 wickets during the tour, was described by one English pace bowler as one of the finest batsmen he had ever seen.

The first international cricket team to play for Australia was a team of Aborigines who went to England in 1868.

Team members included: Johnny Mullagh (Unaarrimin), Bullocky, Sundown Dick-a-Dick (Jungunjinanuke), Johnny Cuzens, King Cole - (Bripumyarrimin) Red Cap, Twopenny,Charley Dumas, and Jimmy Mosquito.

When the boat carrying the indigenous team arrived at Gravesend, Kent, on May 13 1868, England was the bastion of cricket. It was inconceivable that a team from the colonies - let alone one comprising Aborigines - could provide a real challenge. But 14 wins later, several against some of the best sides in the country, this perception had been changed forever.

The tour squad was assembled by Charles Lawrence, the manager, captain, and only white player in the team. They turned out to be brilliant cricketers, having played on the settlers' stations for some years. They had a very good eye, were great fielders and very fast.

The team were generally well received in England, and WG Grace, the father of English cricket, was even moved to say they showed "conspicuous skill at the game".

The team often provided popular demonstrations of their native skills to the crowd after a match. On one occasion the wind caught a boomerang that Johnny Mullagh had thrown and it seriously injured a gentleman spectator.