The 2018 Aboriginal XI cricket squads have recreated a series of photos from the 1868 tour at Lord’s with the help of Australian captain Tim Paine.
The recreated photos include a team shot taken in Swansea in 1868 and the iconic poster of individual player shots taken in Hamilton, Victoria prior to departure for the UK 150 years ago.
In the male images Tim Paine fills the role of Charles Lawrence who was captain/coach and the only non-Indigenous player in the 1868 squad. In the female version this position is filled by head coach Shelley Nitschke.
Original artefacts from the 1868 tour were recently discovered in the UK and in an extra special initiative, male players were able to hold these as part of the recreation.
Female players substituted these weapons for cricket stumps painted by Aunty Fiona Clarke, the great-great granddaughter of 1868 player Grongarrang (Mosquito).
The photos were recreated at Lord’s to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first Australian sporting team to tour the UK.
The Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) in Exeter is lending Aboriginal artefacts, newly identified from the 1868 cricket tour to the UK, for display at Lord’s throughout the 2018 season.
Check out the original photos and recreations below.
The original photo of the Australian Aboriginal cricket team in 1868
The men’s 2018 recreation (Tim Paine is in the centre, standing)
The original team portraits in 1868
The men’s recreation of the portraits
The women’s recreation of the portraits
