Thread by @senantix

Thread
29 Nov 1996
A remarkable day in the history of a people. And predictably, not often remembered that way. The story of the lot in a nutshell
The start of a 71-Test career that saw 259 wickets at 26.13 And of course that sign-off with a double hundred
#onthisday
@dizzy259

They had been the first Australian cricket team to tour England. Way back in 1868. It took 128 years before a man from their people played Test cricket

There was Johnny Unnarrim Mulagh, a superb all-rounder, was by far the most successful cricketer on that 1868 tour.
There was Bullocky the superb wicketkeeper who stumped 28 batsmen on that tour.

There was Twopenny, a fast bowler who excelled with a boomerang and once hit a ball so high that the batsmen ran 9 before he was caught. The first of them to be accused of throwing.

And then there emerged Jack Marsh. The fastest bowler in Australia and the fastest sprinter in the land. He was dealt a harsh hand, with Noble and the ‘Noblest Roman’ dead against him.

In 1901-02, Archie MacLaren threatened that he would take his own umpire to call Marsh if he was fielded against the Englishmen at Bathurst. Supposedly he did not want his men risking injuries
Monty Noble played ball, blocking Marsh’s selection. He played only sparingly for NSW

Marsh captured 5-55 against Plum Warner’s men at Bathurst in 1903-04. But umpire Bob Crockett’s (pic) looming presence with the vindictive promise of being called prevented his selection again.

Albert Henry was Marsh’s contemporary, the first aboriginal to play for QLD. He impressed vs MCC in 1903-04 Len Braund said it was the fastest he'd faced.
Marsh died after a street brawl, his assailants acquitted of charges. Henry succumbed to tuberculosis at the age of 29

On 6 November 1931, Eddie Gilbert floored Don Bradman before dismissing him for a duck, a spell the master said was the fastest he ever faced. Umpire Andrew Barlow publicly declared that he intended to no-ball him.

There was speculation that he would be selected for Australia to counter Bodyline. Especially when he struck Jardine on the thigh in the Queensland-MCC match, leading to the collapse of the England captain in the dressing room.

However, even when Grimmett was dropped from the side, rather ordinary Ernie Bromley was chosen in his place. Gilbert did not make it. Australia was not prepared to turn to a black man to attempt to uphold its sporting honour.

Some teammates refused to speak to Gilbert, share taxis, dining tables, rooms. He was handed a fraction of his money while the rest was deposited to his account, since he was a 'comic savage prone to abandoning the side.'

He wasn't allowed to sleep with the team and was put in a tent on the practice pitch.
Gilbert died at the Wolston Park Hospital near Brisbane aged 72 after many years of ill health due to alcoholism and mental illness.

In 1958, Faith Coulthard opened the bowling for the Australian Women against England in the Ashes Test at Melbourne
It took 38 more years before Jason Gillespie from Kamilaroi Nation became the 370th Australian male to represent the country in Test cricket & the first aborigine

Evonne Goolagong won 7 Grand Slam titles

Ashleigh Barty achieved World No 1 rank in WTA

Basketballer Michael Ah Matt and boxers Adrian Blair and Francis Roberts became the first Indigenous Australian Olympians when they competed at the 1964 Tokyo Games.

In 1992 Samantha Riley became the first female Indigenous Olympian and the first indigenous Australian to win a medal when she won bronze in the 100m breaststroke.

Nova Peris-Kneebone was the first gold medallist as part of the women’s hockey team in Atlanta in 1996. And then there was Cathy Freeman with a silver in Atlanta 1996 and gold in Sydney 2000 in the 400m

Of the 52 Indigenous athletes to represent Australia at the Olympic Games, 39 men and 13 women. But between them the women have won nine out of Australia’s 12 Indigenous medals.
There have been indigenous Australian AFL and Rugby stars.

But Jason Gillespie remains the only Test cricketer among the aborigines. Here he is with Faith Coulthard Thomas.
And we think only South Africa has a history of discrimination ...

Know the past ... Burst the bubble...
#aborigines #blm #cricket #sports