Tom Garrett (cricketer)

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Tom Garrett (Thomas William Garrett) was an early Australian cricketer and later a respected public servant. He was born on 26 July 1858 in Wollongong, and he died on 6 August 1943 in Sydney.

Cricket career
- He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast-medium bowler.
- Garrett played 19 Test matches for Australia between 1877 and 1888, scoring 339 runs and taking 36 wickets. His best Test bowling was 6 for 78. In first-class cricket, he played 160 matches, scoring 3,673 runs and taking 446 wickets.
- He debuted in Australia’s first Test match against England in Melbourne in 1877, becoming the youngest Australian Test player at 18 years and 232 days. He scored 18 not out in the first innings and helped a 43-run partnership with Bannerman before Bannerman retired hurt.
- Garrett toured England and North America in 1878 and played in the 1882 Ashes at The Oval. His last Test was in Sydney in 1888. He was known as a tall all-rounder with strong bowling and quick fielding.

Public service
- Outside cricket, Garrett trained as a solicitor. He studied at Newington College and began work in the New South Wales public service, eventually serving as registrar of probates (1890), curator of intestate estates (1896), and public trustee (1914). He retired from public service in 1924.
- He returned to private practice and remained active in the profession until his death.

Death and legacy
- Garrett died in 1943 after a service at St James’ Church, Turramurra, and was cremated at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium. At his death he was Australia’s oldest living Test player and the last survivor of the first Test.

Family
- He was the son of a newspaper proprietor and politician named Thomas William Garrett and Mary Ann Creagan. His son was Hubert Garrett. His great-grandson is Peter Garrett, the singer of Midnight Oil and former politician; Trevor Garrett is a great-great-grandson.