Tom Garrett

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Tom Garrett Australia (AUS)

Batting style	Right-handed batsman (RHB)
Bowling type	Right-arm fast medium (RFM)
	Tests	First-class
Matches	19	160
Runs scored	339	3673
Batting average	12.55	16.18
100s/50s	-/1	2/10
Top score	51*	163
Balls bowled	2728	24316
Wickets	36	446
Bowling average	26.94	18.72
5 wickets in innings	2	29
10 wickets in match	-	4
Best bowling	6/78	7/38
Catches/stumpings	7/-	81/-
Test debut: 15 March 1877 Last Test: 15 February 1888 Source: [1]

Thomas William Garrett (July 26, 1858 in Wollongong, New South Wales - August 6, 1943 in Sydney, New South Wales) was an early member of the Australian cricket team.

A right-handed all-rounder for New South Wales, who bowled fast-medium, he played in 19 Tests, scoring 339 runs at 12.55, and taking 36 wickets at an average of 26.94 with his best bowling of 6-78. In 160 first-class cricket he scored 3,673 runs at 16.18, and took 446 wickets at 18.27 runs per wicket including 29 hauls of 5 wicket in an innings.

Garrett played in the first Test match, against Lillywhite’s team in March 1877, and at 18 years and 232 days is still the youngest to play for Australia against England. In that match he scored 18 not out in the first innings, and helped in a crucial 43 run partnership with Charles Bannerman until the latter split his finger and retired hurt on 165. Promoted to No. 4 in the second innings, Garrett made a duck. Opening the bowling with John Hodges he took two wickets in the first innings (including that of top scorer, Henry Jupp). He played in the historic Ashes match at The Oval in 1882. His last match was at Sydney in 1888.

As a bowler it was said by George Giffen that “he would keep a fine line outside the off-stump, and never minded being hit. Sometimes the ball would work a little from the pitch which victimised most of the batsmen.” He would release the ball from as high a point as he could reach, taking advantage of his 6 ft frame. Later in his career, his bowling fell away, but he became a powerful batsman, particularly square of the wicket. He was also a gifted sprinter, and in 1887 at Sydney caught a skier “in a display of breathtaking agility”.

As captain of New South Wales he was rated highly, especially in his handling of aspiring young bowlers.

At the time of his death he was Australia’s oldest living Test player.

[edit] References

Pollard, Jack, ‘’Australian Cricket: 1803-1893, The Formative Years’’. Sydney, The Book Company, 1995. (ISBN 0-207-15490-2)
Pollard, Jack, ‘’Australian Cricket: The Game and the Players’’. Sydney, Hodder & Stoughton, 1982. (ISBN 0-340-28796-9)