Tom Garrett

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = Australian
country = Australia
country abbrev = AUS
name = Tom Garrett
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-handed batsman (RHB)
bowling style = Right-arm fast medium (RFM)
tests = 19
test runs = 339
test bat avg = 12.55
test 100s/50s = -/1
test top score = 51*
test balls = 2728
test wickets = 36
test bowl avg = 26.94
test 5s = 2
test 10s = -
test best bowling = 6/78
test catches/stumpings = 7/-
FCs = 160
FC runs = 3673
FC bat avg = 16.18
FC 100s/50s = 2/10
FC top score = 163
FC balls = 24316
FC wickets = 446
FC bowl avg = 18.72
FC 5s = 29
FC 10s = 4
FC best bowling = 7/38
FC catches/stumpings = 81/-
debut date = 15 March
debut year = 1877
last date = 15 February
last year = 1888
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/5364.html

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 and a distinguished public servant.

Early life

Tom Garrett was the second son of a newspaper proprietor and politician, bearing the same name, and his first wife, Mary. Garrett was educated at Newington College (1867-1872) [Newington College Register of Past Students 1863-1998 (Syd, 1999) pp70] , while the school was still at at Newington House, Silverwater. His ability as a cricketer and sprinter was encouraged by the assistant master Joseph Coates.

Public service career

In 1873 he matriculated at the University of Sydney and attended lectures for several terms. In January of the next year, his father secured for him a clerkship in the Department of Lands. He transferred to the Supreme Court in 1876 and was admitted as a solicitor on February 25 1882. He became registrar of probates in 1890, curator of intestate estates as well in 1896 and public trustee in 1914. When he retired in 1924, his staff had increased from fourteen to 67, and some 25,000 estates, involving over £10 million, had passed through his office. That year, Garrett returned to practise as a solicitor and, at 81, still attended his office daily.

Cricket career

A tall right-handed all-rounder for New South Wales, bowling 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.

Descendants

He is the great-grandfather of former Midnight Oil member and now Federal Minister Peter Garrett. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/02/05/1075854008330.html The ton that stopped a nation] "The Age" 2004-02-06 Retrieved on 2008-01-26.]

References

Bibliography

* 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)
* Australian Dictionary of Biography
last= Cable
first= K. J.
authorlink=
year=1981
id=A080640b
title= Garrett, Thomas William (1858 - 1943)
accessdate=2008-05-05
* Bonnell, Max: "Currency Lads: The Life and Cricket of T.W. Garrett, R.C. Allen, S.P. Jones and R.J. Pope" (Cricket Pub., 2001, ISBN 0957808909).

ee also

* History of Test cricket (to 1883)

External links

* [http://www.icc-cricket.com/db/PLAYERS/AUS/G/GARRETT_TW_02000007/ Cricinfo article on Tom Garrett]