A fast bowling all-rounder by design, Tom Garrett had bowling as his stronger suite though he relished showing a dog fight with the bat in hand as well. Tom wasn't express pace with the ball in hand but still operated at a fairly good speed to keep the batsmen honest. Accuracy and that nagging line/length were his strengths and he kept pegging away relentlessly with the attitude of a workhorse. Garrett endured tremendous success at the First-Class level and had decent numbers in his brief international career as well. His tall frame meant that he could extract uncomfortable bounce from even the flattest of pitches, thereby making him a priceless commodity. With the bat in hand, he produced just one Test fifty but generally got stuck in at the crease, often denying the opposition bowlers from running through the tail.

Garrett also played extensively in the County circuit in England, for Middlesex and performed admirably well. Born near Brisbane, Garrett experienced quality education and came from an affluent background in terms of studies. Apart from his cricketing skills, Tom was also a charming personality and this made him popular not only in Australia but also in England. The outswinger was Garrett's best weapon but it wasn't his only one. Especially in conditions that aided swing bowling, he could make the ball talk, often disrupting the batsmen's rhythm and confidence. As a captain, Garrett was underrated, especially considering his tactical acumen and man-management skills. Apart from cricket, Garrett was also a popular solicitor. He died in 1943 and at that time, he was the oldest Test player alive from Australia.

By Hariprasad Sadanandan