George Henry Simmons Garton, better known as George Garton, is a talented cricket player from England who made his debut for the English national team in January 2022. Although his career faced some setbacks due to health issues, Garton’s promising skills and abilities grabbed the attention of fans and selectors alike.
Garton, a left-arm fast bowler and an accomplished batter, had an exceptional run in the year before his England debut. His impressive performances for Sussex led to an ODI call-up, although his debut was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, Garton’s abilities were further recognized when he played a crucial role in Southern Brave’s victory in the inaugural men’s Hundred. This success earned him contracts to play in the prestigious Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Big Bash League.
Initially, Garton’s skiddy pace and whippy action lacked control, but he demonstrated significant improvement during the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy. In a match against Essex, he took a maiden first-class five-for, which included dismissing the likes of Alastair Cook and Dan Lawrence. Garton also finished as Sussex’s leading wicket-taker in the Blast. In April of the following year, he showcased his batting prowess by scoring a career-best 97 against Glamorgan. Additionally, he dismissed England captain Joe Root at Hove, further enhancing his reputation in white-ball cricket.
Garton first caught the attention of the England selectors during his debut season for Sussex. At the age of just 19, he was a surprising inclusion in the England Lions squad to face Sri Lanka A and Pakistan A. This highlighted the selectors’ search for a promising left-arm fast bowler suitable for Test cricket. Prior to this, Garton represented England Under-19s in the 2016 World Cup in Bangladesh. Impressively, he claimed a wicket with his first ball in first-class cricket against Leeds/Bradford MCCU at Hove, marking a memorable beginning to his career. His natural talent and skills earned him praise from Sussex’s bowling coach, Jon Lewis, who described him as “a real gem.”
In 2017-18, Garton was unexpectedly called up into the England Ashes tour party for the first Test as a short-term cover due to the team’s injury crisis. This came even though he had played only nine first-class matches at that point. Unfortunately, most of the subsequent year was plagued by a freak injury when Garton suffered a side strain while picking up a suitcase at Los Angeles airport. Despite this setback, he managed to secure a place in Sussex’s 50-over side in 2019 and displayed glimpses of his all-round capabilities by scoring two half-centuries from the number nine position. His excellent performances continued in the 2019 Abu Dhabi T10 tournament, where he finished as the leading wicket-taker, leading to a trial with the IPL team Rajasthan Royals.
George Garton’s cricket career may have faced some obstacles, but his undeniable talent and dedication make him a promising player for the future. As he continues to overcome challenges, his left-arm pace bowling and batting prowess are sure to contribute significantly to both Sussex and the English national team.
