Bullocky (cricketer) facts for kids
Harry Bullocky, whose traditional name was Bullchanach or Bullchanah, was a famous Aboriginal Australian cricketer. He was a key player in the historic 1868 Aboriginal cricket tour of England. Bullocky was known for being a strong right-handed opening batsman and an excellent wicket-keeper. People even compared his skills to some of the best cricketers of his time!
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Who Was Harry Bullocky?
Not much is known about Bullocky's early life, including his exact birth date or family background. His nickname, "Bullocky," was an English version of his traditional name. It might have come from the Australian word "bullocky," which means someone who drives a team of oxen.
Bullocky spent a lot of his life working on farms, called agricultural stations, in the Wimmera area of western Victoria. He learned some of his cricket skills from Tom Hamilton at Bringalbert Station. Later, he worked at Mount Talbot Station for Charles Officer, alongside other Aboriginal cricketers.
Playing Cricket in Australia
Bullocky played for a Victoria XI team against a Tasmanian XVI in January 1867. He played alongside another Aboriginal cricketer, Johnny Cuzens. This match was very important because they are believed to be the first Aboriginal people to play in a game between different Australian colonies. Even though it wasn't considered a "first-class" match, it was a big step for Aboriginal cricket.
The Historic Tour of England
Bullocky was a vital part of the Aboriginal cricket team that traveled to England in 1868. The team left Sydney on a ship called the Parramatta on February 8, 1868.
During the tour, which lasted from May to October 1868, Bullocky played in 39 matches. He often started the batting for his team. He was also the main wicket-keeper, though sometimes Johnny Mullagh took on that role. Bullocky was very good at his job, managing to stump 28 batsmen from the bowling of Charles Lawrence. He would stand very close to the stumps, ready for action!
The cricket pitches back then were often rough, which made it harder for batsmen. Despite this, Bullocky played 61 innings and scored 569 runs. His batting average was 9.33, placing him fourth among his teammates. He even scored an impressive 64 runs without being out against Hastings. There was one time he was "absent ill" for an innings in a match against the MCC at Lord's, which was a bit of a mystery.
After the Tour
After returning to Australia, Bullocky continued to work on the stations and play cricket. In 1872, he opened the batting with Johnny Mullagh for the Harrow team against Apsley. He also became the captain of the team from the Lake Condah Mission.
Bullocky passed away in 1890 at the age of 53. He died from a lung condition.
