Johnny Mullagh was an Australian cricketer from Victoria who was the leading player on the famous 1868 Aboriginal cricket tour of England. He was a skilful all-rounder, being a right-arm bowler and right-handed batsman. In December 2020, Mullagh was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.
A Harrow portrait of Johnny Mullagh.
Australian Aboriginal cricket team in England in 1868
In 1868, a cricket team composed of Aboriginal Australians toured England between May and October of that year, being the first organised group of Australian sportspeople to travel overseas. It would be another ten years before an Australian cricket team classed as representative left the country.
The Aboriginal cricket team pictured with their captain and coach Tom Wills at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, December 1866
Coach and captain Tom Wills, 1866
The Aboriginal team playing against Melbourne Cricket Club at the MCG, early 1867
Johnny Mullagh, the team's star all-rounder