Johnny Mullagh - Australia's first All-Rounder

August 13 marks the birthdate, 165 years ago, of Australia’s first great all-rounder, Johnny Mullagh, whose real name, Unaarrimin, provides a reason why he is not talked about with the same adulation as other past Australian cricketers such as Spofforth, Trumper and Bradman. For Unaarrimin was an Aborigine plying his trade in a racist Australia.

Born in 1841 on Mullagh Station about 10 miles north of Harrow, Victoria, he learned to play cricket whilst working on the adjoining Pine Hills agricultural station. He was given the name ‘black Johnny’, so as to distinguish him from a ‘white Johnny’.

It was obvious that Unaarrimin was a remarkable cricketer, and he was chosen for the first Australian side to tour England in 1868. These tourists were made up of members of the indigenous population led by the Englishman Charles Lawrence. Unaarrimin was given the name ‘Mullagh’ to identify him with his place of birth.

Unaarrimin’s tour statistics make impressive reading. He played in 47 matches, batted in 71 innings and hit 1698 runs at an average of 23, and was considered the equal of any English batter. He also bowled 1877 overs, 831 of which were maidens, and took 245 wickets at 10 apiece. If this wasn’t enough, he would occasionally don the wicket-keeping gloves and had four stumpings to his name. Few cricketers better merited the title of all-rounder.

Nineteenth century Australia witnessed an onslaught against indigenous peoples. Many of those chosen to tour England were left to obscure futures and early deaths. One Player, King Cole, died on the trip and of those who returned, seven spent time on a reserve, two vanished, and two cannot be counted for. Measures were introduced to ‘protect’ the indigenous population from the exploits of white society, but these only aided their social isolation. Protection, in reality, meant controlling their movements, who they married, what they read, their religious rituals and their sporting activities.

Unaarrimin was both an independent individual and a passionate advocate of indigenous rights, and he refused to live on the state-controlled reserves. His politics was revealed during a game at Apsley, when as the players went to lunch somebody asked “what about the nigger?” The captain replied, “let him have his dinner in the kitchen. Anything is good enough for the nigger”. Unaarrimin refused to eat in the kitchen, and sat outside the hotel in protest.

Unaarrimin never appeared in intercolonial cricket, although he did represent Victoria against a touring England side in 1879, top scoring with 36 in the second innings. He was then 38 years old, and instead of going in first wicket-down, as he did for his club, he batted nine and ten.

Maintaining his independence and dignity to the end, Unaarrimin spent his last days living in a rabbitter’s shack, but continued to play cricket until a few months before his death in 1891, the day after his 50th birthday. The Hamilton Spectator described him in his obituary as ‘“the Grace” of aboriginal cricketers’.

Australia’s treatment of its indigenous people is one of the great untold blots on colonialism. That some maybe willing to come to terms with what was attempted genocide is shown by a memorial built to honour Unaarrimin, and a local indigenous tournament for the Johnny Mullagh Memorial Trophy. His fame came too late, but for what he stood for and how he played, a light will always shine for this remarkable cricketer.