INDIGENOUS Australian, Scott Boland has etched his name into the Ashes history books after ripping through England’s batting order in the second innings to finish with incredible figures of 6-7 and receive the Mullagh Medal on debut.

The medal is named after Indigenous pioneer, Johnny Mullagh who was the star all-rounder of the first ever Australian cricket team that went on tour in 1868 and is an Australian Cricket Hall of Fame inductee.

Boland has a special connection with the story and was one of the cricketers that visited Harrow Discovery Centre in 2018 to learn more about the story.

The 32-year-old was just the second the second Indigenous man to ever pull on the Baggy Green behind Jason Gillespie and the fourth person in total.

With figures of 1-48 off his 13 overs in the first innings and a staggering 6-7 off just four overs in the second innings, it was no surprise Boland received the medal.

His dominant performance gave the Australians a comfortable win and enabled them to retain the Ashes and go 3-0 up in the series.

He said winning the Mullagh Medal was very special and connecting with the story and history meant even more to him, but also to his family and the other descendants of the 1868 cricket team.

Being presented with the medal by descendant, Belinda Duarte was also an emotional moment for many proud Indigenous elders.

“I’m sort of lost for words …, to win the medal is amazing, I think my family would be very proud,” he said,

“It was about 17 of us (that) went away (to England) a couple of years ago to commemorate the tour from 1868, we got to learn so much about that tour and what went on.

“I sort of thought that the game might be over today, but I was more thinking later in the day, and we’d have to chase 150 runs.

“It happened so quick, bowling a team out in 28 overs is very rare so a pretty good day.”

Boland said being a role model for all the other Indigenous cricketers around the world was something he aspired to continue doing.

He felt the Johnny Mullagh medal was a huge step in spreading the word and connecting with the Indigenous culture and history of cricket.

“The Aboriginal guys and girls who are playing first class cricket and Big Bash (League), that’s what we want, we want to be able to help grow the game,” Boland said.

 “We want cricket to be as big in the Aboriginal community as NRL is or AFL is, so if this can go a step to helping that, I’m happy.”

Harrow Discovery Centre manager, Josie Sangster said she was over the moon to hear that Boland had been added to the squad for his home test, let alone get to play and go on to win the Mullagh Medal.

“It was unbelievable, it couldn’t have gone any better,” she said.

“We were thrilled he’d been included in the squad; I was hoping that was a precursor to being selected on his home ground, he knows the MCG and has had some great bowling results there recently.

“On Christmas day, my son rang me … Scotty Boland has been selected he said, that was cause for celebration.”

Sangster spoke about how humble and respectful Boland was when he visited Harrow in 2018 with his brother Nick, and other members of the team to learn more about the story of Johnny Mullagh.

This was just prior to the team travelling away to England to take part in the 1868 commemorative cricket tour.

This included Boland being presented with his shirt for the tour which was representing Yellanach (Johnny Couzens) who was a member of the original XI.

“I remember them (Scott and Nick) walking into the Harrow Discovery Centre, I said clearly you’re the Boland brothers, it was funny with these two prime athletes walking in there,” she said.

“Hearing all these reports of Boland being humble and gracious is absolutely no surprise to me, when he was in Harrow, he was there to learn the story, he loved engaging with locals and had a great time meeting people at the Hermitage hotel.

“Part of the planned activity was a presentation; we also had a smoking ceremony out at Johnny Mullagh’s waterhole.

“Scott and nick were presented their shirts with their names (at Harrow), all of the players represented one of the players from the original side.

“It comes as no surprise that he is getting the personal accolades, he has a real connection with the story because of the opportunity (he received) and was very respectful.”

Sangster said the way it all played out with him winning the medal was “amazing” and was like it had been scripted.

When he picked up two quick wickets late on day two was the moment when she first thought that he could be a sneaky chance to take home the medal.

“He got two wickets at the end of play just before stumps on Monday night and I thought he might get a couple quick ones, and he could be in with a chance (of winning the medal) but still thought it was a long shot,” she said.

“Watching him bowl his first ball at the MCG with the crowd behind him on Sunday was special, we were watching on with the crowd when he got his first wicket, it was just a great build up.”

For Boland to be recognised and connect with his Indigenous heritage on his Australian test match debut was a great story and will go down in Ashes history.

The Mullagh Medal is in just its second year but has already gained great momentum and Sangster was excited about the possibility of extending the story even further.

“The significance of the Mullagh Medal is enormous, it tells a lot of stories, the story of adversity, courage and resilience, it encapsulates so much more than just cricket,” she said.

“I have also bought up the possibility of getting together a fund or scholarship, like a Johnny Mullagh foundation or Unaarimin scholarship for regional kids to learn the story.”