George Garrett: “What I’ll take most going forward is the friendships I’ve made”

After announcing his retirement from professional cricket, George Garrett spoke exclusively to the Club to look back on his seven-year professional career in the sport, and his plans for the future.

“It wasn’t necessarily a knee-jerk decision,” he explains. “I think it was something that had been playing on my mind for a period of time. I think I’ve always been one to, as much as professional cricket demands a lot from you, I never wanted it to define me as such. I’ve got aspirations to do other things.

“I got to a stage where I looked at what success from me looked like in cricket and with my skill set. As good as that is, I think it was the case of playing a lot of red-ball cricket and bowling 500 overs a year and that kind of thing. As much as that might have been appealing to my 21-year-old self, I think I got to a stage where I was actually, I’ve given it a good crack.

“I’ve had six years in the game and it’s time to do something else. Naturally, that was a caveat against great lads in the changing room and being a professional cricketer is an absolute privilege.

“I’m under no illusion that stepping away from that will be hard, but I think selfishly I had to make the decision on my own terms and that’s why I’ve chosen to do it.”

Born in Harpenden, Garrett played his age group cricket for Hertfordshire before making the move to Warwickshire at Under-14 level.

“I played for Hertfordshire until I was 12 or 13. Then I went to school in Shrewsbury, so that was a tenuous link [to Warwickshire].

“Paul Greetham, who is still at Warwickshire, he was the academy director for a fair period of time. He was head of sport at Shrewsbury School, so he got me through and sold the school, if you like.

“Then after a term he said, ‘I’m leaving, I’m going to Warwickshire, come and trial’. I actually trialled and didn’t get in originally. It ended up that things worked out and I managed to get in the system and went from there.

“Yes, a bit of a tenuous link, but I owe a lot to Paul Greetham at Warwickshire. He’s a top man.”

Garrett then made his first-class debut in 2019 as a Bear.

“It was a special day,” Garrett smiles. “I remember vividly taking my first wicket and my Dad and brother were there in the stands.

“As a 19-year-old, I think you don’t necessarily get that emotional, do you? But I remember getting quite emotional as I was looking at them.

“That was a pretty special moment and I’ll take that with me forever. Playing against Somerset, who at the time were competing for the Championship and Warwickshire could have got relegated that year as well, so there was enough riding on the game.

“I think when you’re that age you don’t have any scars. You just go out and play. As I’ve gotten older, you do carry your scars with you a bit more and you think about it more than you might have done. But very fond memories.”

He then joined Kent ahead of the 2024 season.

“I’ve loved my time here,” he says. “Obviously, the Club’s going through a period of transition. You hear that a lot in sport, in transition, but I think that is certainly the case here. I’ve had a great time.

“Some things haven’t necessarily worked out on the pitch, but equally that is sport. I’ve been playing a lot more here. I’ve realised how bloody tough it is!

“First-class cricket, it’s the pinnacle. Obviously, I haven’t played much white-ball cricket, but it’s the pinnacle. Equally, it’s gruelling and it’s a challenge.

“Playing in Division One last year was incredible, playing at these amazing grounds against England’s best cricketers. Maybe too many Kookaburra games probably don’t help us as an English seamer! But no, it was a great decision and I know a lot of very good people here. I think Mark Dekker is one that I would like to mention now.

“When I was trialling at Warwickshire, I got released in June of that Summer and that was hard, having to go into different environments in the twos and trials and getting to know different people and trying to make an impression and bowl the house down to get a contract. ‘Dekks’ was brilliant with me in terms of being transparent, but also guiding me. He’s an example of a top man in the building.

Garrett then says that his fondest Kent memory was taking a wicket on debut against Somerset back in 2024.

“Day One was washed out in true April cricket fashion. It was nice to get Sean Dickson, caught Jack Leaning. That was a pretty nice moment for sure.

What would he say was the highlight of his pro career?

“As much as I didn’t play, being part of a team that won the Championship was pretty cool and the celebrations at Lord’s and the Bob Willis Trophy Final, following that. That was good fun.

“I think it’s easy to sit here and list off achievements, but I think what I’ll take most going forward is the friendships I’ve made, both at Warwickshire and at Kent.

“As a professional cricketer, you spend a lot of time with each other.

“I immediately come to think of the two days we spent in Leicester in a hotel just recently, and I was thinking what other professions do you really get paid to sit in a hotel and play cards?

“I think those friendships with the guys I’ll hold dearly, but equally I’ll miss just as much.”

What will he miss most about professional cricket?

“Having six months off is quite a good fun! I will miss that feeling of satisfaction you get after a hard day’s play. You’ve come through periods of adversity and you’ve bowled well, as much as your body hurts and aches, only as a 24-year-old.

“God knows what it would have been like if I was 34! I think that feeling of satisfaction, having a beer and you’ve earned something and you’ve achieved something really, really cool with a set of guys. I think I’ll struggle to replicate that.

“I think that would be the main thing. That’s the crux of the answer.”

Earlier this Summer, Garrett spoke candidly to the Club about mental health in professional cricket during Mental Health Awareness Week.

“I think cricket certainly makes you resilient. It’s a word that gets thrown around a lot but it’s something I’ve had to learn to deal with. It’s easy for your whole identity to be bound up in a bad day or dropped catch or poor spell.

“I had to work really hard at not pinning all my self-worth within that performance. I am so much more than a professional cricketer, as is everyone in the building. We’re almost not taught to think like that but I think it’s important to have that perspective.

“Maybe that’s the product of why I’ve decided to step away. I’ve got other interests and I want to go and do that. Cricket will give me a great grounding in a lot of ways.

“I think professional cricketers, especially county cricketers, without sounding like I’m moaning at all, but they’re resilient. Having to go and face fast bowling when you’re tired is not fun and equally having to go in and bowl 20 overs, having bowled 25 overs the day before again is hard. It requires a lot of physical resilience but also mental application as well.

“I think as a fan going forward, everyone has their opinions. I will be reminding people of how hard this game is, but also how rewarding and fulfilling it can be as well. And because you’ve been a professional player, you’re going to receive support from the PCA for life now.

Despite retiring, Garrett will still receive lifelong support from the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), who extend their help to all cricketers, past and present.

“I think you don’t realise how much of an impact and support they can offer until you really need them and you lean on them.

“The PCA have done so much for me already and I’m not banging the drum there, I genuinely mean that. It ties into what I was saying about making that transition and softening it because it’s going to be hard.

“You go from a parallel world, this world is not normal and I’m about to step into a more normality.

“Just having an organisation there that can act on your behalf and assist you goes a real long way.

“I keep trying to remind the young guys in the dressing room that as much as a PCA meeting when you’re 20-year-old doesn’t really mean much, when you’ve been told you’re not going to get a contract at certain clubs, it can feel like the world has fallen apart.

“The trapdoor has opened up and the PCA are normally there to catch you, which is special.”

Garrett’s next step is a Law Conversion Course, as he starts a new chapter at the age of 25.

“It’s something I’ve always had in the back of my mind. It intrigued me. I didn’t think if I was 19 I’d end up going to do a Law conversion at 25.

“I studied History at University and I think it’s quite a natural fit. Even whilst I’ve been playing I’ve been a big reader and the guys are probably sick to death of seeing me read books or newspapers in the changing room!

“I think it’ll be good for myself and I’ve got aspirations of where I want to get to and I feel like Law can get me there.

“Who knows, maybe I’ll step into Sports Law and represent Kent one day, who knows!”

After previously singling out Paul Greetham and Mark Dekker, Garrett also thanks other people that have helped him through his cricketing journey.

“I think any young player has to thank their parents for driving me around the country when I was at a very young age and supporting me and allowing me to pursue my dreams. That’s very, very special. I think Adam Shantry at Shrewsbury School is another one, a mentor.

“Paul Greetham, all the head coaches, I think the head coaches I’ve learned it’s a hard job. You are doing so many different roles in one.

“At Warwickshire I had Jim Troughton and Mark Robinson. Here I’ve had ‘Walks’ [Matt Walker] and ‘Smokes’ [Adam Hollioake]. They’re all top men.

“I can guarantee that if I had to ring any of them now they’d pick up in a heartbeat and give me their time of day. I think that says a lot about them.

“So many people to thank. I think the cricket fraternity is special. I think everyone appreciates how gruelling it can be at times, how rewarding it can be, how amazing it is. I’ll miss having chats with people before a play in the lunch room over a coffee.

“I’d like to say as well, I noticed it when I was fielding at Cardiff as the 12th man, every away game you go to you do see a lot of Kent fans.

“I’ve been to Blackpool all over and Kent is a proud Club with a lot of history and I have no doubt that it will be back where it belongs in time.

“With ‘Smokes’ at the helm I think the Club are in safe hands.

“Good young players are coming through and I’ll be following them as a supporter for sure.”

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