Tom Garrett of NSW was 18 years and 232 days old when he opened the bowling for Australia in the first Test in March 1877. He remains the youngest player ever to represent Australia against England — a record that has stood for nearly 150 years. Garrett took 2/22 and 2/9 in the match and went on to play 19 Tests over the next decade.
Garrett was educated at Newington College in Sydney, where his cricket was developed by the assistant master Joseph Coates. He was 16 in his first-grade Sydney club debut.
The All-Australian selectors needed a third pace option after Spofforth's withdrawal and Frank Allan's late refusal. Garrett, a tall and willing 18-year-old, was the surprise pick.
Garrett was a Newington College schoolboy product who had played first-grade Sydney cricket since 16. His selection for the All-Australian XI surprised the press but reflected a chronic shortage of fast bowlers willing to play. He opened the bowling with John Hodges, took two wickets in each innings, and made 18 not out and 0 with the bat. The 18-not-out shared a 43-run last-wicket stand with Bannerman that significantly extended Australia's first-innings total. Garrett's age — 18 years 232 days — has never been bettered for Australia in an England Test, despite the youth-promotion eras of the 1990s and 2010s. He toured England in 1878, 1882 and 1886, played a further 18 Tests, and finished his career with 36 wickets at 26.95. After cricket he was a successful Sydney solicitor and captained NSW to Sheffield Shields in the 1890s. He died in 1943 as Australia's last surviving first-Test cricketer.
Garrett selected for first Test at 18
Opens bowling with John Hodges
Takes 2/22 in first innings
Last-wicket 43-run stand with Bannerman as 18 not out
Takes 2/9 in second innings
Australia win by 45 runs
26 Jul 1858
Born at Wollongong, NSW
Mar 1877
Test debut at Melbourne, aged 18 years 232 days
1878
Tours England with first Australian XI
1894-98
Captains NSW; wins two Sheffield Shields
Aug 1943
Dies in Sydney as last first-Test cricketer alive
“He bowled with the strength and the heart of a man twice his age.”
Garrett toured England in 1878 with the first Australian XI and was a regular Test selection through the 1880s. He moved into administration as captain of NSW from 1894-95 to 1897-98 and won two Sheffield Shields. He outlived all his fellow first-Test cricketers, dying in Sydney in August 1943.
Cricket's first Test featured Australia's youngest-ever Ashes debutant. Garrett's 18-year-232-day age record has lasted nearly 150 years.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
Days after the 1934 Oval Test, Bradman fell seriously ill with appendicitis that progressed to peritonitis. With antibiotics not yet available, he was given little chance of survival; his wife Jessie left Adelaide on a sea voyage to England prepared for the worst. He recovered after weeks of intensive nursing in a London nursing home and returned to first-class cricket the following Australian summer.