Tom Garrett — Youngest Australia Test Debutant, 18 in March 1877

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.

“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.