Cricket

Cricket is far and way the most popular ’summer’ sport in Australia and unlike the many codes of football, it is followed equally in every territory. Australia has a rich heritage in the sport and has undoubtedly been the most successful nation overall in cricketing history. Cricket also enjoys a high level of female participation registered in the game with a survey in 2003 revealing 47,780 women involved in official cricket programs.

It is thought that cricket was played by the first western colonists to Australia and certainly has been active now for over 200 years in the ‘land of plenty’. By 1826 the first formal clubs were in existence, and in 1838 The Melbourne Cricket Club, perhaps the most famous Australian cricket club was formed. Inter-colonial cricket involving Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales proved hugely popular and by the 1860’s touring teams from England increased the profile of the sport still more.

The first Australian team to tour England was amazingly an Aboriginal team which toured in 1868 completing a gruelling schedule of 47 matches! The 14 victories recorded by that team were a surprise to all and star all rounder Johnny Mullagh (traditional name: Unaarrimin) was widely admired, English fast bowler George Tarrant said “I have never bowled to a better batsman.”