Recognition at long last

Members of Australia's Indigenous cricket team that toured England in 1868 will be honoured at a recognition ceremony during the Australia-Pakistan Boxing Day Test here on Monday, Cricket Australia (CA) said.

The ceremony during the tea break on the second day's play will include formal recognition of the team as the first cricketers to represent Australia by allocating individual player numbers, and a presentation of a framed replica guernsey as worn by the team in 1868.

Faith Thomas, Australias first female Aboriginal to be selected for a national side, and Len Clarke -- a descendant of 1868 team member Johnny Cuzens -- will attend the ceremony on behalf of the players and relatives of the 1868 team.

Former Australian captain Ian Chappell, who has been an advocate of formally recognising the 1868 team, will make the presentation on the ground.

As part of the recognition ceremony, the 14-member touring party will be assigned individual player numbers.

This follows the tradition of presenting player numbers to Australian debutants in Test and one-day international cricket.

The 1868 team is recognised as the first cricket side to represent Australia overseas.