Johnny Mullagh

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Johnny Mullagh, Unaarrimin Australia (AUS)

Batting style	Right-handed batsman (RHB)
Bowling type	Right arm bowler
	Tests	First-class
Matches	-	1
Runs scored	-	40
Batting average	-	20.00
100s/50s	-	0/0
Top score	-	36
Balls bowled	-	12
Wickets	-	0
Bowling average	-	N/A
5 wickets in innings	-	0
10 wickets in match	-	0
Best bowling	-	0/12
Catches/stumpings	-	1c
Test debut: [[]], 1878 Last Test: [[]], [[]] Source: [1]

Johnny Mullagh (13 August 1841 near Harrow, Victoria - 14 August 1891 Pine Hills Station, Victoria), was part of the famous 1868 Aboriginal cricket tour of England. He was a talented all-rounder, a right arm bowler and right-handed batsman.

He was born in 1841 on Mullagh Station about 10 miles north of Harrow, Victoria, and 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".

Also known by his traditional name Unaarrimin (he was given the name 'Mullagh' to identify him with his place of birth), he played forty-seven matches on the 1868 tour, scoring 1698 runs at an average around 23 and took 245 wickets at the impressive average of near 10 [2]. He 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. His performances were impressive enough for him to join the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) as a professional, although he did not remain there for long.

Nineteenth century Australia witnessed severe discrimination 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 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 were 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 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".

A memorial was built to honour Unaarrimin, and a local indigenous tournament created for the Johnny Mullagh Memorial Trophy.